Clinical Research Directory

Effect of the Consumption of Cookies Enriched With Plant Proteins and of a Vitamin D Supplement on the Progression of Sarcopenia in the Elderly

The ageing population makes it necessary to find effective strategies for the prevention of sarcopenia (the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength and a decline in physical performance) that can be counteracted with foods containing protein and adequate intake of vitamin D. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of consuming a food based on plant proteins and vitamin D supplementation. Intervention studies in humans conducted to date have mostly focused on the effect of animal proteins (mainly from whey) on disease progression. A study on the effect of pea proteins has not yet been conducted and will provide information on the effectiveness of these proteins in modulating markers linked to the disease. The effect on the gut microbiota will also be considered, as the existence of a gut-muscle axis has been suggested, in which microbial genera producing short-chain fatty acids have been linked to a positive effect on muscle mass through anabolic stimulation. Thus, the analysis of the modulation of the intestinal microbiota, through the dietary intervention proposed in this study, may represent a further step in research related to the prevention of this disease. Sarcopenic volunteers aged between 65 and 80 will be recruited to consume either a shortbread biscuit made with wheat flour enriched with hydrolysed pea protein and a vitamin D supplement in extra virgin olive oil, or a control biscuit and a placebo (extra virgin olive oil) for 12 weeks. The study will be randomised, parallel, single-blind. The effect of consuming the experimental biscuit and vitamin D supplementation compared to that of a traditional control biscuit and a placebo oil solution will be evaluated on certain markers related to sarcopenia. In particular, the following will be considered: muscle strength, measuring grip strength and leg strength (chair stand test); muscle mass through the measurement of appendicular muscle mass, and the calculation of the appendicular muscle mass index; physical performance using the Short Physical Performance Battery; the inflammatory response and other blood biomarkers related to sarcopenia. In addition, the following will be assessed: dietary habits through a food diary and quality of life through the SarQoL questionnaire. Finally, the effect of nutritional intervention on the modulation of the gut microbiota will be evaluated through 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of the data.

Standardized Nutritional Management of Pediatric Patients With Solid Tumors

The purpose of this study is to establish a standardized nutrition intervention procedure for children with solid tumors, and to explore the effectiveness and clinical applicability of standardized nutrition management and short peptide-based enteral nutrition intervention for improving the nutritional status of children with malignant solid tumors. After admission, patients in the intervention group will receive standardized nutrition management provided by a nutrition support team composed of dietitians, nutritionists, clinicians, and nursing teams. Basic information, including diet, enteral and parenteral nutrition, nutritional status and clinical data, will be collected during the study.

Nutrition to Support Postoperative Recovery

Older surgical patients commonly have malnutrition, and there is evidence these patients have increased risk for poor physical and brain recovery after surgery and anesthesia. There are scientific-based recommendations to provide nutritional supplements to support recovery. However, to date these recommendations do not address a broad group of nutrients likely to reverse common deficiencies. Team members have created a palatable, broad-spectrum and stable nutritional shake that we will give to patients after surgery. We propose to test the nutritional shake in frail older surgical patients at Dartmouth Health to determine if a nutrition shake provided after surgery improves recovery of physical function and cognitive abilities. Half the patients will receive the shake and the other will receive the standard of care postoperative nutritional instructions after surgery. We will collect information regarding physical function and cognitive abilities of all the patients while in the hospital and 90 days after surgery. We will use this data to apply for funding for a powered randomized trial to determine the role of nutrition in optimizing physical and cognitive recovery from surgery in older patients.

Early Nutritional Intervention in Patients With Cancer

The goal of this intervention study is to study the effect of nutritional interventions in patients with cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy. The main question it aims to answer is: Does early nutritional interventions affect body weight, quality of life, survival, muscle mass, performance status, physical function, nutritional risk and treatment tolerance in patients with cancer receiving palliative chemotherapy? Researchers will compare patients receiving the intervention to a historical control cohort following current clinical practice.

Effect of Golden Rice-Piper Crocatum Cookies on Neuropathy Prevention in Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that can cause many complications, one of the most common being diabetic neuropathy. This condition occurs due to long-term high blood sugar levels that damage the nerves. Symptoms include tingling, burning, pain, and loss of sensation in the feet. If not prevented, neuropathy can progress to diabetic foot ulcers and even lead to amputation. This study aims to evaluate whether Golden Rice Cookies enriched with Red Betel Leaf (Piper crocatum) can help prevent diabetic neuropathy in patients with diabetes. Golden rice is a type of rice that contains beta-carotene (provitamin A) and high fiber, which help maintain stable blood sugar levels and reduce oxidative stress. Meanwhile, red betel leaf contains flavonoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties that may protect nerves from damage. Cookies were chosen as the intervention form because they are practical, easy to consume, and widely accepted by patients. In this study, patients will be divided into two groups: an intervention group receiving golden rice cookies with red betel leaf extract, and a control group receiving golden rice cookies without the extract. Changes in neuropathy symptoms will be assessed using the Neuropathy Symptom Score (NSS) before and after the intervention. The expected outcome of this research is to provide scientific evidence that the combination of golden rice and red betel leaf in the form of cookies can serve as an effective, safe, and acceptable functional food to help prevent diabetic neuropathy. This nutritional intervention may support comprehensive diabetes management and improve patients' quality of life.

Impact of Golden Rice-Piper Crocatum Cookies on Lipid Control in Diabetes Mellitus Patients

People with diabetes often experience abnormal blood fat levels, known as dyslipidemia, which increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. The aim of the study, researchers are exploring a natural and practical solution through a healthy snack in the form of cookies. These cookies are made from Golden Rice, which is rich in beta-carotene as a natural antioxidant, and Piper crocatum (red betel leaf) extract, which contains polyphenols and flavonoids that may help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and protect blood vessels. In this study, patients with diabetes will consume the cookies for 28 days, and their blood fat levels will be measured before and after the intervention. The results will then be compared with those of a control group who receive the Golden rice cookies without piper crocatum extract. This research aims to show that Golden Rice with Piper crocatum extract cookies can reduce bad cholesterol and triglycerides, increase good cholesterol, and serve as a safe, affordable, and acceptable food option to support daily diabetes care. If successful, this approach may offer patients and families a simple way to help prevent complications and improve quality of life, alongside regular treatment and lifestyle changes.

Golden Rice Cookies With Piper Crocatum for Blood Glucose Control and Quality of Life in People Living With HIV With Hyperglycemia

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Golden Rice Cookies with Piper crocatum can help improve fasting blood sugar and quality of life in people living with HIV who have hyperglycemia (GRC-HIV). It will also learn about the safety and acceptability of this dietary intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does Golden Rice Cookies with Piper crocatum lower fasting blood sugar levels in PLHIV with hyperglycemia? Does Golden Rice Cookies with Piper crocatum improve quality of life in PLHIV with hyperglycemia? Researchers will compare Golden Rice Cookies with Piper crocatum to control cookies (iso-caloric cookies without Golden Rice and Piper crocatum) to see if Golden Rice Cookies are effective. Participants will: Consume either Golden Rice Cookies with Piper crocatum or control cookies every day for 28 days Visit the clinic at baseline and follow-up for checkups, laboratory tests, and questionnaires Record their daily cookie consumption and any symptoms or side effects in a diary

Staircase Nutritional Intervention for Elderly Patients Undergoing Spinal Fusion Surgery

The goal of this prospective multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a staircase nutritional intervention in reducing postoperative complications and improving long-term functional recovery in elderly patients aged ≥75 years scheduled for spinal fusion surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does the staircase nutritional intervention reduce the 30-day postoperative complication rate, as measured by the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI), compared to conventional ERAS diet management? 2. Does the staircase nutritional intervention improve 1-year functional recovery, as assessed by Oswestry/Neck Disability Index (ODI/NDI) and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D), compared to conventional ERAS diet management? Researchers will compare the intervention group receiving MNA - based staircase nutritional intervention (including 14-day preadmission oral nutritional supplementation, perioperative personalized nutritional support, and postdischarge continuous management) combined with surgery-specific prehabilitation training to the control group receiving conventional ERAS diet management to see if the former leads to better clinical outcomes and long-term functional recovery. Participants will Undergo randomization: Be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. Receive assigned interventions: Control group: Receive conventional ERAS diet management, including preadmission nutritional education and early postoperative oral intake. Intervention group: Undergo MNA - based staircase nutritional intervention and surgery-specific prehabilitation training. Participate in follow-up: Complete short-term (within 90 days postoperatively) and long-term (6 and 12 months postoperatively) follow-up assessments, including laboratory tests, functional evaluations, and satisfaction surveys.

Ketone Conferred Resiliency Against Sleep Restriction With Nutritional Intervention.

Sleep deprivation is a major problem in military populations. Some major consequences of sleep loss are inability to concentrate, poor work efficiency, and increase in errors during daily tasks. Ketogenic supplementation is speculated to alleviate some sleep deprivation issues via action of ketones. Ketones are small molecules that appear in the blood when following a ketogenic diet or consuming ketone supplements. The goal of this project is to find out if diet and/or ketones can improve sleep deprivation detriments over 5 days of sleep restriction (-50% from habitual sleep).

The Effect of Ingesting a Novel Algae Protein Source on Rested and Exercised Muscle Protein Synthesis Rates in Older Adults.

To assess the rested and postexercise muscle protein synthetic response following the ingestion of a flavourless algae protein source compared with whey protein in older adults.