Clinical Research Directory

Nutritional Education Program for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD)

Study Summary Title: Mediterranean Diet Intervention for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A Randomized Controlled Trial (The TIMA Study) Introduction: This trial, known as the TIMA (Taiwanese Mediterranean dietary intervention for MASLD) study, evaluated the clinical impact of a culturally adapted, online nutritional program. Aims: * Primary Aim: Assess the impact of an iso-calorie Mediterranean diet compared to standard care on intrahepatic fat in MASLD patients. * Secondary Aims: Evaluate the effects on liver function tests, lipid profiles, HbA1c and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; HOMA-IR), noninvasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis with transient elastography by Fibroscan, Framingham Risk Score (FRS), serum metabolites, quality of life (QoL), compliance and stool microbiome. Study Design: * Type: 12-week, prospective, two parallel-group, randomized controlled trial. * Participants: MASLD patients with \>5% hepatic steatosis diagnosed by MRI-PDFF, randomized into two groups: Mediterranean diet intervention and standard care. Randomization: * Method: Computer-generated random numbers, 1:1 allocation. * Blinding: Radiologists and statisticians blinded to treatment assignment. Intervention: * Mediterranean Diet Group: Specific dietary guidelines provided. * Standard Care Group: Simple lifestyle advice. Compliance: • Monitored through standardized questionnaires and T-MEDAS at each visit. Assessments: Reduction of hepatic triglyceride content by MRI-PDFF at baseline and week 12. Conclusion: This trial aims to determine the effectiveness of a Mediterranean diet in reducing intrahepatic fat and improving related metabolic and microbiome parameters in MASLD patients compared to standard care.

Using Family-Based Approaches to Improve Healthy Eating for Southeast Asian Children

This small scale healthy eating study provides Southeast Asian families with children ages 6 to 11 with a family-based nutrition education, one-on-one interviews to help with motivation to eat health, text messaging, and coupons to purchase health foods and beverages. Since this is a small scale study that is a pilot intervention, the main goal of this intervention is to determine if it is feasible, meaning, can it be done. The second goal of this intervention is to determine if there are meaningful improvements in children's healthy eating patterns, body mass index and HbA1c. The third goal is to see if the intervention improves parent's diet quality, HbA1c and the home food environment. These study findings will be used to determine whether a larger clinical trial is needed, and if so, how it should be done.

Medically Tailored Meals for Cardiovascular Health

This randomized clinical trial (RCT) will investigate novel approaches to enhance effectiveness, engagement, reach, and cost-effectiveness of medically tailored meals (MTM) programs for promoting cardiovascular health, focusing on economically disadvantaged New York City neighborhoods with a disparate burden of multiple cardiometabolic diseases. The main questions the RCT aims to answer are: 1. Does enhancing MTM programs, with culturally relevant cardiovascular health curriculum (including educational sessions on heart health, healthy diet, cooking demonstrations, recipes, gift bags with healthy ingredients and fresh produce, and addressing social needs) enhance program engagement and effectiveness in improving short-term healthy eating behaviors and clinical outcomes (HbA1c and blood pressure) among individuals with type 2 diabetes and elevated to high blood pressure who currently qualify for MTM programs? 2. Is the MTM program coupled with the cardiovascular health curriculum effective for improving healthy eating behaviors and clinical outcomes (HbA1c and blood pressure) among individuals with type 2 diabetes and elevated to high blood pressure who do not currently qualify for MTM programs and is a gradual reduction of MTM dosing an effective and sustainable approach for expanding reach of these programs? To answer question 1, 66 participants with type 2 diabetes and elevated to high blood pressure who currently qualify for MTM programs will be randomized into a group that receives the standard MTM program (10 MTMs/week for 8 months) or a group that receives the standard program plus the cardiovascular health curriculum. To answer question 2, 110 participants with type 2 diabetes and elevated to high blood pressure who do not currently qualify for MTM programs (due to not having advanced disease with complications) will be randomized into a group that receives the standard MTM program (10 MTMs/week for 8 months) plus the cardiovascular health curriculum or a group that receives standard MTM program for the first 3 months followed by a gradual reduction in dosing of the MTMs by 50% over the remaining 5 months plus the CVH curriculum. All participants will have their HbA1c and blood pressure measured and complete questionnaires about their diet quality, health and lifestyle behaviors, and program engagement and implementation at baseline, 3 months, and 8 months.

Free Living Food Waste Management and Diet Quality Improvement Using Smart Intervention and Food Image Application

The primary aim of this study is to reduce household food waste and improve individual nutrition. This will be achieved using the FoodImageTM smartphone app 1, a novel method for measuring household food acquisition, food intake, and food waste decisions, to assess the efficacy of a smart intervention that targets food waste reduction and diet quality improvement. The intervention is designed to improve nutrition by offsetting intake of less nutritious foods with increased fresh fruit and vegetable (FV) intake while simultaneously reducing household food waste via strategies tailored to participating households.

Investigating the Bioavailability of Broccoli Extract Supplements

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare how much glucoraphanin and sulforaphane from 3 different versions of broccoli extract supplements is absorbed into the body and excreted in urine. This study involves generally healthy adults age 18-60 years. The supplements contain glucoraphanin and myrosinase enzyme, both naturally occurring in cruciferous vegetables. Once ingested, glucoraphanin is converted to the bioactive compound sulforaphane, which is thought to have numerous health benefits, including cancer prevention. Participants will: * consume 3 different versions of broccoli extract supplements (glucoraphanin will range from 35-70 mg) * complete 3 separate 24 hour study cycles * submit blood and urine samples for 24 hours * follow diet restrictions (no cruciferous vegetables or condiments or phytochemical/herbal supplements for 1 week prior to and during each study cycle)

Sip and Snack Better (SSB) Study: Improving Added Sugar in Adolescents

Teens consume more added sugar than any other age group. Too much added sugar is associated with poor diet quality, obesity risk, and negative cardiometabolic outcomes. Behavioral interventions to improve dietary intake are needed, but are currently lacking for this age group. This study aims to test how feasible, acceptable, and effective a 12-week contextually-tailored health coaching program, called Sip \& Snack Better (SSB), is in reducing added sugar in teens, compared to a technology-only comparison. It will provide important information on how to improve dietary intake and reduce added sugar in teens. Additionally, measuring diet is very challenging in teens, so this study will also test the use of an objective biomarker (called the carbon isotope ratio (CIR)) as a measure of added sugar intake before, during, and after the 12-week study.

Health Literacy and Obesogenic Behaviors

The prevalence of adolescent behaviors that can lead to obesity are alarming, and reduced life expectancy is the future of America's youth if behavioral changes are not implemented to improve health and reduce the obesity burden. Researchers have argued that health literacy is a precursor to health knowledge and is necessary for translating knowledge about healthy choices into behavior, with low health literacy being associated with reduced preventive health behaviors in adults. Given the lack of health literacy-specific interventions addressing adolescents' obesogenic behaviors, the purpose of this study is to examine the preliminary effectiveness of adding a health literacy module to an obesity prevention intervention that addresses adolescents' obesogenic behaviors.

Discovery of Biological Signatures for Cruciferous Vegetable Intake (Single Serving)

The purpose of this project is to study the molecular and metabolic profiles in human plasma, urine and microbiome composition following the consumption of broccoli sprouts.

RE-inventing Strategies for Healthy Ageing; Recommendations and Tools

The goal of the RESTART RCT is to examine whether a complex lifestyle intervention, coordinated with municipal and non-government organizations (NGO), can establish and preserve improvements in risk factors and functional capacity among older adults at high risk of cardiometabolic disease. The main objectives to investigate are whether a complex lifestyle intervention, compared to an active control group, will at 24 months have: 1. Produced a clinically relevant increase in cardiorespiratory fitness (primary endpoint) 2. Increased muscle strength, physical activity and reduced adiposity 3. Improved body composition, health-related quality of life and cognitive function All participants (Control and Intervention Groups) are provided with wrist-worn activity trackers at baseline and access to national recommendations on physical activity. The intervention group additionally advances through a comprehensive lifestyle program including high-intensity aerobic and strength exercise, dietary and behavioral counselling. Intervention participants are gradually transitioned into exercise activities organized by Tromsø Municipaity and local NGO:s. Testing of outcomes are performed at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. Primary endpoint (VO2max) is assessed at 24 months.

Effects of an Exercise and Diet Program on Biochemistry and Body Composition in Patients With CKD in G1 and G2 Stages

How Exercise, a Controlled Diet and Education Improve the Health of People with Early-Stage Renal Failure: A Study at Ciudad Guzmán Hospital

The PASTDUe Nutrition Ecosystem Project (PASTDUe)

This is a research study to determine if a particular method of providing nutrition improves the clinical outcomes of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who have undergone abdominal surgery and would require nutrition delivered via the bloodstream (called total parenteral nutrition or TPN). The nutrition method we are testing is a structured nutrition delivery plan that involves tube feeding, oral nutrition supplements, and the use of a device (called an indirect calorimeter or IC) to measure calorie needs. This study will also use two devices to measure fat and muscle mass to examine changes during hospitalization. Subjects will be followed throughout hospitalization where nutrition status and fat and muscle mass will be closely monitored. Study activities will begin within 72 hours of a patient's abdominal surgery. TPN (total parenteral nutrition, a method of feeding that bypasses the usual process of eating and digestion) will be started, a non-invasive method of assessing calorie needs (indirect calorimetry (IC)) will be started, a urine sample will be collected to help assist in protein needs, and fat/muscle mass will be measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and an ultrasound. This is a minimal risk study and all products/devices used are non-invasive and FDA-approved. Indirect calorimetry and urine sample collection will be conducted every 3 days during the stay in the Intensive Care Unit - ICU, then every 5 days until hospital discharge. BIA and muscle ultrasound will be conducted every 7 days during ICU stay, then every 14 days until hospital discharge.

The Sleep2BWell Trial

Improving multiple domains of cardiometabolic health (CMH) through contextual behavioral interventions has the potential to substantially reduce persistent chronic disease disparities. Sleep is critical for preserving CMH and is amenable to intervention in real-world settings. Although sleep health, in conjunction with other lifestyle behaviors, can improve CMH through complementary or synergistic pathways, most existing lifestyle change programs focus solely on diet and physical activity. Sleep2BWell is a community-based cluster randomized trial aimed at evaluating the impact of incorporating a multidimensional sleep health intervention into the BWell4Life program, an ongoing 4-week program for promoting CMH through healthy diet and physical activity, delivered by peer health educators at faith-based organizations and community centers in underserved NYC neighborhoods. The enhanced 6-week intervention, Sleep2BWell, will include the following additional components: 1) two sleep health education and group coaching sessions, 2) self-monitoring and motivational enhancement using a Fitbit, and 3) addressing prevalent environmental barriers to healthy sleep in urban settings such as noise and light with a novel and timely extension to address indoor air pollution. A total of 10 community sites will receive the intervention enrolling an average of 15 participants per site for an expected sample of 150. The investigators will collect objective measures of sleep and physical activity throughout the study, and assess diet and CMH outcomes at baseline and 10 weeks (primary endpoint). The investigators hypothesize that Sleep2BWell will improve CMH, including reduced blood pressure (primary outcome) improved health behaviors (sleep, diet, physical activity) and adiposity markers (secondary outcomes). To ensure the successful completion and future expansion of this work, this study will use mixed methods to understand implementation determinants and outcomes, guided by implementation science frameworks. This first-of-its-kind effectiveness-implementation study, addressing individual level behaviors and factors and upstream influences and leveraging key behavior change and community engagement strategies, will investigate the integration of sleep health into a multi-behavior lifestyle change intervention aimed at addressing CMH disparities in community settings. This innovative multilevel intervention will inform scalable sustainable community health approaches and public health policy to improve sleep health and CMH disparities through advancement in novel multilevel bundled behavioral interventions.

Dietary Intervention to Improve Kidney Transplant Outcomes

Randomized controlled trial of a curriculum intervention teaching patients to eat a whole-food plant-based dietary pattern versus standard of care in kidney transplant recipients within the first few months of transplant

Why Calories Are Not the Same - a Gut Explanation?

The aim of this study is to understand how the gut microbiome influences how much dietary energy humans excrete via feces. This study is based on the hypothesis that levels of methane in exhaled breath represent two different gut microbiome community structures, and therefore influence fecal energy excretion differently. Moreover, this study is assessed in the context of two different diets, both isocaloric and equal in macronutrient composition, but differing in contents of fiber, resistant starch, and large particles; which are hypothesized to impact the gut microbiome differently.

Efficacy Trial of Healthy Together ("Juntos")

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of a family-based digital (web and mobile phone-based) program known as Healthy Together ("Juntos") in preventing increases in body mass index and improving moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, diet quality, and percentage body fat among Hispanic adolescents.

Microbiome and Diet in Parkinson's Disease

The goal of this pilot study is to examine the feasibility and effects of an 18-month intervention diet compared to an active control diet (standard diet) in those living with Parkinson's Disease (PD), without dementia. Research has shown that eating components of Mediterranean diets are associated with a 30% lower risk to develop PD and a 40% lower mortality rate in those living with PD. Diet may influence the gut and microbiomes, thus may affect PD risk and progression. This study will examine how easy it will be to adhere to a certain type of diet for 18 months and what changes may occur in the gut microbiome and in PD symptoms on a specific diet during that time. The study will involve in-person study visits at UBC as well as online diet coaching sessions and online group cooking classes over Zoom. This is a randomized study, meaning that participants will be assigned by chance to either the Mediterranean-style diet group or the standard diet group for the duration of the 18 months. This pilot study will also examine recruitment rates and retention, in order to prepare for a larger future study.

Whole Foods for Teens: A Pilot Dietary Intervention to Reduce Body Adiposity in Adolescents With Obesity

This study will address the following aims: Aim 1: Conduct an 8-week pilot RCT to examine the effects of a whole foods diet intervention on body adiposity in adolescents with obesity. Aim 1a (Primary): Evaluate intervention effectiveness on total fat mass following the 8-week intervention. Hypothesis 1a: Adolescents randomized to the whole foods intervention will have lower total fat mass (kg) at the 8-week follow-up than those in the control group. Aim 1b: Evaluate intervention effectiveness on anthropometric changes following the 8-week intervention. Hypothesis 1b: Adolescents randomized to the whole foods intervention will have lower weight, BMI-z scores and/or waist circumference at the 8-week follow-up than those in the control group. Secondary Aims: Aim 2: Conduct an 8-week pilot RCT to examine the effects of a whole foods diet intervention on diet quality in adolescent and parent pairs during the study period. Hypothesis 2: Adolescents and parents randomized to the whole foods intervention will have higher diet quality scores at the 8-week follow-up than those in the control group. Aim 3: Conduct post-intervention family focus groups to identify how individual/family needs and preferences and social determinants of health (SDOH) may be perceived barriers and/or facilitators of diet adherence to a whole foods diet pattern.

Whole Food for Families: A Pilot RCT of a Dietary Guidelines-Based Intervention to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

This study will address the following aims: Aim 1 (primary): Conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, enrollment, and retention rates of adult-child pairs after a 12-week family-centered, non-calorie restricted whole foods diet. Feasibility: ≥80% participant retention and completion of study outcome measures. Acceptability: ≥75 adult diet satisfaction via survey report and/or perceived diet satisfaction via focus groups. Aim 2: Conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of a non-calorie restricted whole foods diet on adult HbA1c at 12 weeks and adult/child diet quality during the 12-week intervention. Aim 2a: Evaluate intervention effects on HbA1c measures in adults with prediabetes. Hypothesis 2a: Adults randomized to the treatment group will have lower HbA1c measures at 12 weeks than those in the control group. Aim 2b: Evaluate intervention effects on the diet quality (via the 2020 HEI) of adults and children. Hypothesis 2b: Adults and children randomized to the treatment group will have a higher diet quality score during the 12-week intervention period compared to adults and children in the control group. Aim 3: Conduct family focus groups to understand how SDOH and individual/family needs and preferences may be perceived barriers or facilitators of diet adherence.

With Love, Grandma ("Con Cariño, Abuelita") Pilot Study

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a digital (web and mobile-phone-based) program to improve lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, dietary intake) among Hispanic female cancer survivors and adult daughters.

FEAR of HYPOGLYCEMIA in PATIENTS WITH DIABETES

Fear of hypoglycemia has a significant impact on both medication and dietary adherence in individuals with diabetes. Through avoidance behaviors, it can disrupt metabolic control, prevent the achievement of glycemic targets, and increase the risk of long-term complications. Therefore, monitoring only biochemical parameters is insufficient in diabetes management. It is crucial for healthcare professionals to systematically assess the fear of hypoglycemia.

FEAST Perinatal Support Program Intervention

Latino individuals face an elevated risk of adverse health outcomes during pregnancy, impacting both the birthing parent and the baby with potential long-term chronic health conditions. While promoting a healthy diet during pregnancy is a promising strategy, interventions targeting dietary behaviors have yielded mixed results and lack widespread dissemination in communities in need. Collaborating with community-based organizations could enhance cultural relevance, build trust with Latino families, and improve program reach and effectiveness. Food Education Access Support Together (FEAST) is a community-based program that promotes healthy eating, well-being, and health equity for diverse, under-resourced urban populations in Los Angeles. The newly developed FEAST Perinatal Support Program (PSP) aims to support individuals through pregnancy and postpartum by providing dietary psychoeducation, skill-building, and social support, with an additional component of grocery gift cards to address food access barriers. This study proposes a pilot trial to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the FEAST PSP in enhancing dietary outcomes, overall health, and socio-cognitive precursors, in pregnant individuals. The study will enroll 40 pregnant adults in a single-arm study who will receive the core PSP with a $15 gift card for healthful fresh food (PSP+giftcard). Pre- and post-intervention assessments will include questionnaires, dietary recalls, physical measurements, and interviews to evaluate program perceptions. Specific aims include evaluating program feasibility and acceptability (i.e., reach, retention, and participant perceptions) and determining preliminary efficacy on changing socio-cognitive and behavioral aspects of diet, self-reported health, and cardiometabolic risk factors. The project aligns with goals of improving health outcomes in Latino families in Southern California and supports FEAST's strategic objectives for improving health and wellness of individuals during pregnancy and throughout the lifespan. The findings will inform program refinement and future NIH grants for rigorous evaluation of the FEAST PSP.

Hearty Meals for Mom- Pilot Study of Meal Delivery for Cardiometabolic Health During Pregnancy

This study is being done to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of a meal delivery intervention designed to improve diet quality and promote appropriate gestational weight gain among predominantly Black and low-income pregnant women with overweight or obesity. This will be done by 1) assessing the feasibility and acceptability of the meal delivery intervention; 2) investigating changes in patient-reported diet quality, barriers to healthy eating, and food security; and 3) exploring the preliminary impact of the meal delivery intervention on gestational weight gain and blood pressure and estimate the effect size of the intervention relative to a de-identified non-randomized control group that will be derived from de-identified hospital records.

Evaluating an Enhanced Home-delivered Meal Program on Older Adults' Health and Well-being

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island (MOWRI), in partnership with the University of Connecticut (UConn), will implement and evaluate an enhanced version of its Home-Delivered Meals Program (HDMP). The project goal is to implement and test the effectiveness of an enhanced Home-Delivered Meals (HDM) service delivery approach. The enhanced approach includes community health worker (CHW) interactions and supplemental healthy grocery bags to address diet quality, food and nutrition security, loneliness, and health-related quality of life for older adults. MOWRI participants at the highest nutritional risk will be randomized to receive standard or enhanced services in order to test the effect of the intervention on health-related outcomes. Anticipated outcomes for individuals receiving enhanced services are improvements in measures of diet quality, food and nutrition security, loneliness, and health-related quality of life compared with those receiving standard HDM services.

Nurturing Needs Study: Parenting Food Motivated Children

High food motivation among children is trait-like and increases risks of unhealthy dietary intake and obesity. Scientific knowledge of how parenting can best support healthy eating habits and growth among children who are predisposed to overeating is surprisingly limited. This investigation will identify supportive food parenting approaches for obesity prevention that address the needs of highly food motivated children.