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Using Breath Tests to Study Gut Sulfur Changes During Dietary Therapy
Sponsor: University of British Columbia
Summary
This study aims to test whether a short liquid-based diet, followed by a low-sulfur eating plan, is safe, manageable, and helpful for people with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. Investigators want to see if this approach can improve gut health, lower inflammation, and reduce symptoms. Investigators will also test breath samples as an easy, non-invasive way to track gut bacteria activity and disease changes. Investigators believe this diet plan can reduce harmful gut bacteria that produce irritating sulfur compounds, leading to better gut health and measurable improvements that can be detected through breath testing.
Official title: Sulfur on the Breath: Using Breath Biomarkers to Monitor Gut Microbial Sulfur Metabolism During Elemental and Reduced Sulfur Dietary Therapy
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
19 Years - 70 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
45
Start Date
2026-06-01
Completion Date
2029-12-31
Last Updated
2026-06-11
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Elemental formula (mBiota Elemental, Good LFE, Santa Monica, CA)
Elemental liquid diets (EDs) are a subset of Exclusive Enteral Nutrition (EEN). Similar to EEN, they are nutritionally complete formulas, but differ in that they consist of free amino acids, monosaccharides, and fatty acids instead of whole, intact macronutrients, which are designed for optimal digestibility and to minimize antigenicity. EDs have been shown to reduce immune activation, favourably modulate the microbiota, suppress proinflammatory cytokines, support epithelial repair, and exclude common dietary additives that may provoke inflammation.
Reduced Sulfur diet
This diet excludes high sulfur foods (e.g., red meat, seafood, eggs), cruciferous vegetables, dried fruits, and fermented beverages. It also accounts for sulfate intake from drinking water and processed food additives.
Habitual Diet
Participants randomized to the comparator group will continue their usual dietary intake for 10 weeks without specific dietary restrictions.
Locations (1)
University of British Columbia-Okanagan
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada