WE NEED YOUR HELP ON
Effect of Phytin on Human Gut Microbiome – The EPoM Study
There is evidence that regularly eating foods containing phytin, such as cereals and legumes, may decrease the number of ‘bad’ bacteria in your gut.
We need to recruit:
- Men and women aged between 18 – 50 years old for an 8-week study
You would have to:
- Consume capsules containing phytin
- Provide biological samples such as urine, stool and blood
We will:
- Reimburse your expenses
- Provide recompense for taking part in the study
If you live within 40 miles of Norwich and would like further information on the study, please contact:
- Miss Bhavika Parmanand
- 01603 255021 or 0739 923 0525
- Bhavika.parmanand@quadram.ac.uk
- Dr Lee Kellingray
- 01603 255070
- Lee.kellingray@quadram.ac.uk
The study will be sponsored by the QIB and funded through the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); this study was funded by the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Food Innovation and Health ISP.
An expression of interest does not commit you to participation.
This study has been reviewed and given a favourable opinion by the QIB Human Research Governance Committee (HRGC) (Ref QIB03/2018) and a NHS Research Ethics Committee (East of England – Cambridge Central; REC 19/EE/0005).
Health Research Authority (HRA) and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW) Approval has been gained on the 26th February 2019 (IRAS project ID 251932). The study protocol is currently under the process of registration to Clinicaltrials.gov.
Quadram Institute Bioscience clinical trial explores microbiome modulation by plant compound
Participants are now being sought to take part in this study on the effects of a natural plant compound, phytic acid, on our gut bacteria.
Phytic acid is found naturally in seeds, nuts and cereals and consumption in the diet is thought to have benefits for our health. In this new study, Quadram Institute Bioscience researchers want to find out how it affects the microbiome, the population of trillions of microbes that inhabit the gut. Part of the Quadram Institute’s mission is to understand how diet and other factors can influence the composition of the microbiome to promote beneficial bacteria and limit potentially harmful microbes. Phytic acid might have a role in achieving a better microbial balance, and this trial will test that in humans.
Phytic acid in the intestine can bind to iron. Iron is an important nutrient for our health and is absorbed in the small intestine. Unabsorbed iron passes through to the large intestine, where the majority of our gut microbes live. A type of potentially harmful bacteria that can colonise the large intestine relies on this iron, however beneficial bacteria are able to survive without iron. The research team wants to see whether delivering a form of phytic acid to the large intestine binds excess iron and so decreases the proportion of ‘bad’ bacteria in the microbiome.
