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HealthySASNCT03056846

Probiotics on Stress-associated Gastrointestinal Function in University Students

A study testing Probiotic Combination, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum in people with Healthy, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effect of a daily supplement of probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, Bifidobacterium longum MM-2) on stress-associated gastrointestinal function in university students during the time of semester exams. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Healthy
What is being tested?
Probiotic Combination, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
634 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
5 Sep 2017to 5 Feb 2018
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Healthy full-time undergraduate student at the University of Florida
  • Willing and able to consume a daily supplement (probiotic or placebo) for the duration of the 6-week study
  • Willing and able to complete daily questionnaires online regarding general health and well-being, including stress levels and gastrointestinal symptoms (Note: we will recruit participants who will have Internet access for the duration of the protocol, but understand that, once enrolled, situations may change. If this is the case, paper copies of the online forms will be provided)
  • Willing to discontinue any immune-enhancing dietary supplements (e.g., prebiotics and fiber supplements, probiotics, Echinacea, fish oil, vitamin E [>400% of the RDA or >60 mg/day])
  • Had a cold/flu within the past year

Who cannot join

  • Currently smoke
  • Women who are lactating, know that they are pregnant, or are attempting to get pregnant
  • Currently taking any systemic corticosteroids
  • Currently being treated for any physician-diagnosed diseases
  • Have received chemotherapy or other immune suppressing therapy within the last year

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of Florida

    Gainesville, Florida, 32611

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Probiotics (Lactobacillus Gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium Bifidum G9-1, Bifidobacterium Longum MM-2) on Stress-associated Gastrointestinal Function in University Students: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effect of a daily supplement of probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, Bifidobacterium longum MM-2) on stress-associated gastrointestinal function in university students during the time of semester exams.

Read the detailed description

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, undergraduate students planning to take a fall final exam will receive a daily probiotic combination, individual probiotic, or placebo for 6 weeks. Questionnaires will assess gastrointestinal symptoms, immune health, stress and stress management, quality of life, diet, adverse events, and compliance. In a subset of subjects, stool samples will be collected at baseline and at week 5 of the intervention (the week before final exams) to characterize microbial communities.

Conditions
Healthy
Being tested
Placebo, Probiotic Combination, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum
Keywords
probiotic, gastrointestinal, stress, student

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PlaceboDietary supplement

    Placebo will be taken as a capsule twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded).

  • Probiotic CombinationDietary supplement

    Also called Kyo-Dophilus, Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, Bifidobacterium longum MM-2

    A capsule containing a mixture of Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium longum (1.5 billion cells per capsule prior to expiration) will be taken twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded).

  • Bifidobacterium bifidumDietary supplement

    Also called Kyo-Dophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1

    A capsule containing Bifidobacterium bifidum (1.5 billion cells per capsule prior to expiration) will be taken twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded).

  • Bifidobacterium longumDietary supplement

    Also called Kyo-Dophilus, Bifidobacterium longum MM-2

    A capsule containing Bifidobacterium bifidum (1.5 billion cells per capsule prior to expiration) will be taken twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded). Inactive ingredients include gelatin, potato starch, and silica.

Study groups in NCT03056846
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorPlacebo will be taken as a capsule twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded).
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Probiotic CombinationExperimentalA commercially available probiotic mixture of Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium longum will be taken as a capsule twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded).
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Probiotic Combination
Bifidobacterium bifidumExperimentalA commercially available probiotic strain (Bifidobacterium bifidum) will be taken as a capsule twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded).
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium longumExperimentalA commercially available probiotic strain (Bifidobacterium longum) will be taken as a capsule twice daily for 6 weeks by subjects in the group receiving this supplement (group is unknown, double-blinded).
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Bifidobacterium longum

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Gastrointestinal Symptom Response Scale (GSRS) constipation symptom score

    Weekly GSRS constipation symptom score in probiotic mixture vs. individual probiotic vs. placebo

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Change in diarrhea symptoms, measured by GSRS

    Weekly GSRS diarrhea symptom scores in probiotic mixture vs. individual probiotic vs. placebo

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

  2. Change in abdominal pain symptoms, measured by GSRS

    Weekly GSRS abdominal pain symptom scores in probiotic mixture vs. individual probiotic vs. placebo

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

  3. Change in indigestion symptoms, measured by GSRS

    Weekly GSRS indigestion symptom scores in probiotic mixture vs. individual probiotic vs. placebo

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

  4. Change in reflux symptoms, measured by GSRS

    Weekly GSRS reflux symptom scores in probiotic mixture vs. individual probiotic vs. placebo

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

  5. Weekly average of daily levels of stress

    Daily stress (0 = no stress to 10 = severe or extreme stress)

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

  6. Microbiota studies, measured by 16S rRNA sequence analysis

    Microbial diversity measured by 16S rRNA sequence analysis

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and Week 5

  7. Microbiota studies, qPCR

    qPCR to quantify changes in bacteria of interest

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) and Week 5

  8. Immune health, measured by questionnaire data

    Proportion of healthy days (i.e., days without cold symptoms with an intensity >6). Daily health questionnaires ask students about non-allergy-related cold symptoms (running/congested nose, stiffness or chills, headache, cough, fatigue, fever, sore throat, achiness, and ear discomfort) and symptom intensity (0=none, 1=mild, 2=moderate, 3=severe)

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

  9. Immune function, measured by questionnaire data

    Symptom intensity score (average sum of symptom intensities)

    Measured: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Feb 2017
  2. Study start5 Sep 2017
  3. Primary completion21 Dec 2017
  4. Study completion5 Feb 2018

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Triple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
634 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03056846
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB201600917
Acronym
SAS
Status last verified
Mar 2019
First submitted
26 Aug 2016
Last updated
25 Mar 2019
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Probiotic Combination, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum in people with Healthy, run by University of Florida at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Mar 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Gastrointestinal Symptom Response Scale (GSRS) constipation symptom score (time frame: Baseline (Week 0) to Final (Week 6)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Mar 2019.

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