Edible Insects: Good for the Gut and the Globe

Status: Completed
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Dietary supplement
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Edible insects have been eaten by people throughout human history and are consumed today across the globe. Insects are also currently being incorporated into a number of food products in the United States, Canada, and Europe due to their unique nutritional and sustainability attributes. Insects have been touted as an environmental alternative to conventional meat products, but they are unique in containing dietary fiber. The investigators have recently demonstrated in a population of healthy individuals that two weeks of consuming 25 g/day cricket powder may be associated with prebiotic effects by stimulating the growth of Bifidobacterium in the gut. In addition, participants had reduced inflammatory markers in the blood after the cricket intervention. Crickets and other edible insects contain a unique form of fiber called chitin. They would like to explore whether chitin may be responsible for these previously observed effects and particularly if chitin consumption can mitigate symptoms and inflammation associated with the gastrointestinal disorder Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This project aims to examine the impact of consuming 4 grams of cricket-derived chitin daily for 30 days on the gut microbiota, intestinal and systemic markers of inflammation, and symptom severity and quality of life in individuals with IBS.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• Participants must be 18 years of age or older with a medical diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and/or recurrent abdominal pain greater than 1 time per week persistent for at least 3 months while also meeting 2 of the 3 criteria for IBS diagnosis according to the Rome IV assessment. Both adult males and females of any race or ethnicity will be included in this study. (Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria for IBS link: www.mdcalcl.com/rome-iv-diagnostic-criteria-irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs)

Locations
United States
Colorado
Colorado State University
Fort Collins
Time Frame
Start Date: 2023-07-06
Completion Date: 2024-08-31
Participants
Target number of participants: 18
Treatments
Active_comparator: Chitin Fiber
Chitin Fiber
Placebo_comparator: Placebo
Maltodextrin
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Collaborators: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Leads: Colorado State University

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov