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DysbiosisNCT03973996

Gut-level Antiinflammatory Activities of Green Tea in Metabolic Syndrome

A study testing Green Tea Extract in people with Dysbiosis and Endotoxemia, run by Ohio State University 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

This study evaluates dietary green tea extract to improve gut health and inflammation in persons with metabolic syndrome and healthy adults. Participants will complete two phases of intervention in random order in which they will consume green tea extract or placebo for one month and then switch to the opposite… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Dysbiosis, Endotoxemia, Metabolic Syndrome
What is being tested?
Green Tea Extract
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
46 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Jul 2019to 1 Mar 2021
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Individuals with ≥3 of the following established criteria for metabolic syndrome:
  • Fasting glucose 100-126 mg/dL
  • Waist circumference >89/>102 cm for females/males
  • HDL-C <50/<40 mg/dL for females/males
  • Triglyceride >150 mg/dL
  • Blood pressure >130/85 mmHg
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Healthy adults:
  • Body weight 19-25 kg/m2
  • Fasting glucose <100 mg/dL
  • HDL-C >50/>40 mg/dL for females/males
  • Triglyceride <150 mg/dL
  • Blood pressure <120/80 mmHg

Who cannot join

  • Concurrent tea consumption
  • Use of dietary supplements, prebiotics, or probiotics
  • Use of antibiotics or antiinflammatory agents
  • History of liver disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension (blood pressure >140/90 mmHg), or cancer
  • History of gastrointestinal disorders, chronic diarrhea, or surgeries
  • Hemochromatosis
Show all 16Show fewer
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Use of medications to manage diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia
  • Use of antipsychotic medications [Clozapine, lithium, Diazepam]
  • Use of blood thinning medications [Warfarin]
  • Use of high blood pressure medications [nadolol]
  • Use of monoamine oxidase inhibitors [selegiline]
  • Alcohol consumption >2 drinks/d
  • Smoking tobacco
  • Vegetarian
  • Pregnancy, lactation, or recent changes in birth control use for women

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • The Ohio State University

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210

Other trials in United States

About this study

This study evaluates dietary green tea extract to improve gut health and inflammation in persons with metabolic syndrome and healthy adults. Participants will complete two phases of intervention in random order in which they will consume green tea extract or placebo for one month and then switch to the opposite treatment for an additional month.

Read the detailed description

Tea is the most abundantly consumed prepared beverage in the world. Green tea, containing catechins, exerts antiinflammatory activities. However, a fundamental gap exists concerning its intestinal-level targets that can prevent metabolic syndrome (MetS) development and progression. Studies in obese rodents indicate that green tea inhibits nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) activation by limiting gut-derived endotoxin translocation to the portal circulation and decreasing hepatic Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) pro-inflammatory signaling. The objective of this clinical investigation is to establish evidence-based recommendations for green tea, based on improvements in endotoxemia and restored gut barrier function, that promote optimal health. The hypothesis is that green tea catechins function to limit metabolic endotoxemia by ameliorating gut dysbiosis-mediated inflammation that otherwise provokes intestinal permeability. This will be tested by conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized-order, crossover trial in MetS and healthy persons to examine the efficacy of green tea on metabolic endotoxemia. Each treatment will be one-month in duration and separated by a washout period. The anticipated outcomes are expected to be of significance, because they will advance a dietary strategy to help avert MetS complications attributed to metabolic endotoxemia by establishing antiinflammatory prebiotic and antimicrobial bioactivities of catechins that promote intestinal health.

Being tested
Green Tea Extract, Placebo
Keywords
Green tea, Gut barrier function, Gut dysbiosis, Inflammation, Metabolic endotoxemia, Metabolic syndrome, Microbiome
Medical subject headings
Dysbiosis, Endotoxemia, Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation

What participants receive

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

  • Green Tea ExtractDietary supplement

    Also called Camellia sinesis plant extract

    A gummy confection with catechin-rich green tea extract (1 g/d)

  • PlaceboDietary supplement

    A matched gummy confection formulated without green tea extract

Study groups in NCT03973996
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Green TeaExperimentalParticipants consuming gummy confections with catechin-rich green tea extract daily for 4 weeks
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Green Tea Extract
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorParticipants consuming matched gummy confections formulated without green tea extract daily for 4 weeks
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Placebo

What is being measured

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

  1. Serum Endotoxin

    Data are biomarker fasting concentrations.

    Measured: Day 28

Secondary outcomes (29)
  1. Plasma Lipopolysaccharide-binding Protein

    Data are biomarker fasting concentrations

    Measured: Day 28

  2. Urinary Lactulose/Mannitol Ratio

    Lactulose/mannitol ratio in urine collected 0-5 h post-ingestion of non-digestible sugar probes.

    Measured: Day 28

  3. Urinary Sucralose/Erythritol Ratio

    Sucralose/Erythritol ratio measured in urine collected 0-24 h post-ingestion of non-digestible sugar probes

    Measured: Day 28

  4. Plasma Interleukin-6

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  5. Fecal Calprotectin

    Data are biomarker fecal concentrations, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Day 25-27 (pooled samples) of the 28-day intervention

  6. Fecal Myeloperoxidase

    Data are biomarker fecal concentrations, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Day 25-27 (pooled samples) of the 28-day intervention

  7. Plasma Epigallocatechin Gallate

    Data are plasma concentrations of epigallocatechin gallate

    Measured: Day 28

  8. Plasma Epicatechin

    Data are plasma concentrations of epicatechin.

    Measured: Day 28

  9. Plasma Epicatechin Gallate

    Data are plasma concentrations of epicatechin gallate.

    Measured: Day 28

  10. Plasma 3,4-γ-valerolactone

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  11. Plasma 3,4,5-γ-Valerolactone

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  12. Plasma Soluble Cluster of Differentiation-14

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  13. Plasma Glucose

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  14. Plasma Insulin

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  15. Plasma Triglyceride

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  16. Plasma Total Cholesterol

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  17. Serum Alanine Transaminase

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  18. Serum Aspartate Transaminase

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  19. Blood Hematocrit

    Data are biomarker concentrations at fasting

    Measured: Day 28

  20. Plasma Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

    Data are biomarker fasting concentrations

    Measured: Day 28

  21. Fecal Butyrate

    Data are biomarker concentrations in fecal samples, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Days 25-27 (pooled samples) of the 28-day intervention

  22. Fecal Acetate

    Data are biomarker concentrations in fecal samples, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Days 25-27 (pooled samples) of the 28-day intervention

  23. Fecal Valeric Acid

    Data are biomarker concentrations in fecal samples, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Day 25-27 (pooled samples) from the 28-day intervention

  24. Fecal Hexanoic Acid

    Data are biomarker concentrations in fecal samples, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Day 25-27 (pooled samples) from the 28-day intervention

  25. Fecal Isobutyric Acid

    Data are biomarker concentrations in fecal samples, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Day 25-27 (pooled samples) from the 28-day intervention

  26. Fecal 2-Methylbutyric

    Data are biomarker concentrations in fecal samples, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Day 25-27 (pooled samples) of the 28-day intervention

  27. Fecal Isovaleric Acid

    Data are biomarker concentrations in fecal samples, measured in samples pooled from specimens collected on Days 25-27 of the 28-day intervention.

    Measured: Day 25-27 (pooled samples) of the 28-day intervention

  28. Plasma Ascorbic Acid

    Data are biomarker fasting concentrations

    Measured: Day 28

  29. Plasma Uric Acid

    Data are biomarker fasting concentrations

    Measured: Day 28

Timeline

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

  1. First posted4 Jun 2019
  2. Study start1 Jul 2019
  3. Primary completion1 Mar 2021
  4. Study completion1 Mar 2021

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
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
46 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03973996
Sponsor's protocol ID
2018H0592
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
30 May 2019
Last updated
19 Dec 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Dey P, Sasaki GY, Wei P, Li J, Wang L, Zhu J, McTigue D, Yu Z, Bruno RS. Green tea extract prevents obesity in male mice by alleviating gut dysbiosis in association with improved intestinal barrier function that limits endotoxin translocation and adipose inflammation. J Nutr Biochem. 2019 May;67:78-89. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2019.01.017. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

    PubMed 30856467
  • Li J, Sasaki GY, Dey P, Chitchumroonchokchai C, Labyk AN, McDonald JD, Kim JB, Bruno RS. Green tea extract protects against hepatic NFkappaB activation along the gut-liver axis in diet-induced obese mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by reducing endotoxin and TLR4/MyD88 signaling. J Nutr Biochem. 2018 Mar;53:58-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2017.10.016. Epub 2017 Nov 3.

    PubMed 29190550
  • Hodges JK, Zhu J, Yu Z, Vodovotz Y, Brock G, Sasaki GY, Dey P, Bruno RS. Intestinal-level anti-inflammatory bioactivities of catechin-rich green tea: Rationale, design, and methods of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in metabolic syndrome and healthy adults. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2019 Nov 20;17:100495. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100495. eCollection 2020 Mar.

    PubMed 31799477
  • Zeng M, Hodges JK, Pokala A, Khalafi M, Sasaki GY, Pierson J, Cao S, Brock G, Yu Z, Zhu J, Vodovotz Y, Bruno RS. A green tea extract confection decreases circulating endotoxin and fasting glucose by improving gut barrier function but without affecting systemic inflammation: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial in healthy adults and adults with metabolic syndrome. Nutr Res. 2024 Apr;124:94-110. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.02.001. Epub 2024 Feb 5.

    PubMed 38430822

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Green Tea Extract in people with Dysbiosis and Endotoxemia, run by Ohio State University 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 12 inclusion and 16 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 19 Dec 2025. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 2 Dec 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Serum Endotoxin (time frame: Day 28). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03973996, which also lists 4 linked publications.

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 19 Dec 2025.

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