Clinical Research Directory

Combining Fasting and Fibre Interventions to Optimise Their Gut Microbiome-mediated Health Benefits

This study builds on the knowledge that fasting provides metabolic health benefits and that prebiotic interventions can enhance the gut microbiome's metabolic output to likewise improve host health. Whether long-term fasting and dietary fibre interventions could be combined to achieve synergistic improvements in host metabolic health is however unknown. The goal is to provide a proof of concept in a human trial that supplementing 10±4 days fasting with dietary fibre synergistically improves metabolic outcomes via gut microbiome-mediated effects. To assess this, we aim to analyse gut microbiome changes, functional outputs, and key metabolic markers such as butyrate production, glycaemic control and ketosis. The randomised controlled trial includes 75 participants and has two arms: one involving fasting with fibre supplementation (n = 50) and one involving fasting without fibre supplementation (n = 25). All participants will undergo a fasting period of 10±4 days according to the Buchinger Wilhelmi protocol, followed by a stepwise reintroduction of food of up to 4 days. As dietary fibre we will use maize-derived resistant starch type IV, selected based on its ability to stimulate beneficial gut microbes like Oscillibacter and corn starch as placebo. Two main visits will be conducted: before and at the end of the fasting period. During these visits, blood and stool samples will be collected, and questionnaires will be completed. Additionally, daily measurements of anthropometric parameters and well-being will be recorded. Stool samples will also be collected one month afterwards as a follow-up. Participants' metabolic health will be evaluated through various clinical parameters (e.g., body measurements, blood pressure, glycaemic control, ketones, well-being). Additionally, multi-omics data, including metagenomics and metabolomics, will provide insight into the composition of the microbiome, as well as its outputs and functions. Furthermore, the effects of fasting on extracellular vesicles in blood will be explored.

Does Vitamin C Increase the Body Heat Generated By The Nervous System?

The goals of this clinical trial are to determine whether or not vitamin C is able to: (1) increase the body heat generated by the sympathetic nervous system; and, (2) increase circulating vitamin D concentration during sympathetic nervous system stimulation in adult humans aged 18-40 years who meet the criteria for overweight based on body mass index. The main question it aims to answer are: 1. By how much does body temperature increase during stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors when vitamin C is given. 2. By how much does circulating vitamin D concentration increase during stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors when vitamin C is given. Participants will will be asked to: * undergo measures of body temperature * have blood sampled on two separate occasions: once during stimulation of beta adrenergic receptors, and once during stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors while also been given vitamin C.

Acute and Chronic Effects of Obesity

The goal of this study is to understand if there are differences in the fat, muscle and metabolism of individuals who developed obesity during childhood versus those who developed obesity in adulthood. We will do this by having recruited participants undergo subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies in the abdomen and thigh, a muscle biopsy in the thigh, collect blood and urine samples, a DEXA scan and 3 submaximal exercise tests. participants will also have their resting energy expenditure measured through indirect calorimetry to tailor a targeted weight loss protocol through caloric restriction and cardiovascular exercise (3 times a week). After 10% of weight loss is completed, study participants will repeat all tests during a 2 week weight stabilization period. At 12 weeks into the intervention, indirect calorimetry, DEXA scan and blood tests will be repeated.

The Effects of Daytime, Nighttime, and Combined Heat Exposure on Human Health

Assess the acute effects of high-temperature exposure (including both daytime and nighttime conditions) on multiple physiological and psychological indicators, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neuropsychiatric, and metabolic functions, along with their potential mechanisms.

Nighttime Synchrony of Your Nutrition and Circadian Health

Sleep is an important factor for overall health. This study will see how different light exposure patterns and food intake impact a person's metabolism (how the body breaks down food) when sleeping is reduced. Participants will attend 6 to 8 in-person visits to the study clinic, including three overnight stays. People will complete surveys and medical tests. The study will last about 4 to 6 months.

Follow up Study of Varapodio Trial: Effect of Longevity and Fasting Mimicking Diet on Risk Factors Age Correlated and Biomarkers of Aging

A large ongoing randomized, open-label trial aimed at evaluating the effects of two different dietary interventions, FMD and LD, on body composition and cardiovascular (CV) biomarkers in a real word population (NCT05698654) is actually ongoing. This trial started in January 2024 will enrol 501 adult subjects between the ages of 30 and 65: 167 subjects randomized to the FMD arm with a 5-day meal program once every three months for a 6-month period (arm 1); 167 subjects randomized to follow the FMD plus a Longevity Diet program (FMD+LD) for a 6-month period (arm 2); 167 randomized to the control group (arm 3) that will continue their usual diet. On 2024,410, participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to FMD, FMD + LD, or control arm. Although preliminary data demonstrated the beneficial effects of such nutritional plans on body weight, BMI, body composition, and cardiovascular (CV) biomarkers, limited data is available on the long-term effects of these powerful nutritional interventions.

Anti-hypertensive Therapy and Exercise Treatment to Improve Vascular Health in Patients With Hypertension.

This is a prospective, monocentric, randomized controlled trial to investigate the effect of anti-hypertensive treatment and/or individualized exercise training intervention on blood pressure and vascular health. Furthermore the investigators want to decipher mechanisms, which contribute to vascular health by analyzing changes in metabolism and cell function in relation to vascular reaction.

Evaluation of Blood Protein O-GlcNAcylation Levels in Children

Stimulation of O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to be beneficial in several acute pathologies and different animal models, such as haemorrhagic and septic shock, and ischaemia-reperfusion (cerebral and cardiac). It could therefore be interesting to use this approach in children in order to limit the impact of various pathologies inducing SIRS, such as extracorporeal circulation for major surgery, septic shock or various traumas. The investigators demonstrated in 2 different animal models (endotoxemia by injection of Lipopolysaccharides and caecal puncture ligation model) with 3 different pharmacological molecules (Glucosamine, ThiametG and NButGT) that stimulation of O-GlcNAcylation was beneficial in the early phase of septic shock with a marked effect on cardiac function and survival. The investigators thus demonstrated that stimulation of O-GlcNAcylation was beneficial in young rats in septic shock. However, none of this work has yet been reproduced in humans, either children or adults.