Background :

There is a plausible relationship between microbial gut and insulin resistance. Intervention to prevent insulin resistance by modifying the microbial gut has been proposed but limited studies demonstrates the expected impact. One of the possible way to manipulate the microbial gut is the administration of synbiotic (prebiotic and probiotic).

Objective :

This study aim to address the impact of synbiotic administration to the microbial gut and insulin resistance.

Brief Methodology :

A Quasi Experimental study with multiple arms is conducted to healthy participants. All subjects will undergo a microbial gut taxonomic analysis using faecal sample and blood examination to determine the insulin resistance status (using Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance/HOMA-IR approach). Synbiotic will be given to intervention arm and active comparator will use maltodextrin. Repeated measurement will be conducted after 8 weeks and 12 weeks from the day of administration.

Hypothesis : A superiority trial hypothesis is applied, assuming that the synbiotic group will demonstrates higher variety of microbial gut and lower HOMA-IR level

Study Location :

This study will recruit the healthy participants from the university

Target Population:

Healthy Participants

General Study Design :

Quasi Experimental study with a comparator

Sample Size calculation :

Difference between two means of HOMA IR from pilot data (7) and standard deviation 2.9, with 5% Type I error, and 80% Power yielded a total of 16 participants for two arms

Management of Sample:

1. Faecal Sample handling

   1. Patient should undergo 8 hours of fasting prior to faecal examination
   2. DNA Extraction
   3. Lysate preparation and centrifuge faecal sample
   4. Mixing lysate with sample
   5. Column wash
   6. DNA elution
   7. DNA storing
   8. DNA sequencing and analysis
   9. taxonomical analysis

2. Fasting blood glucose

   1. Patient should undergo 8 hours of fasting prior to Fasting blood glucose
   2. Blood is taken from cubital vein
   3. Spectrometry is conducted based on the NADPH formation from the equation below

   D-glucose+ATP -----> Glucose-6-phospate+ADP Glucose-6-phospate+NAD ---- G-6-PDH ---> D-Gluconate-6 phospate+NADH+H

3. Insulin level

   1. Centrifuge blood to obtain the serum
   2. The monoclonal anti-insulin antibody is given to the serum
   3. detection is based on the anti-insulin antibody and insulin complex formation

4. Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance/ HOMA-IR value is calculated from glucose level multiply by insulin level and divided by 405.

Protection for adverse event

1. All subjects are given the consent regarding the potential harm of synbiotic administration
2. All subjects will follow the protocol of reporting the any adverse event (most likely, severe constipation)
3. All subjects will be treated accordingly and hospitalisation if needed.

Statistical Analysis

1. General Analysis : Intention To Treat (ITT)
2. Propensity Score Matching will be conducted prior to intervention
3. A repeated measure ANOVA will be performed, whereas Generalized Linear Mixed Model treating the intervention as dummy variable will be performed if ANOVA assumptions can not be fulfilled.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age above 18 years old
2. Not receive antibiotic prescription within the last 6 months

Exclusion Criteria

1. Taking medication that alters the blood sugar
2. Taking probiotic or synbiotic product (such as yogurt)
3. Participant who do not take the synbiotic intervention for more than 3 days consecutively
4. incomplete follow up examination results
5. Develop adverse effect

The participants receive the synbiotic in the form of fine powder and taken orally and packed with similar packages. Care provider (Research assistants) distribute the unlabeled formulation to the participants. Outcome assessors (laboratory technician) will not be informed regarding the allocation. Investigators are blinded from allocation and will not be informed until the final analysis. Only the statistician will perform and aware of the allocation. A propensity matching score (PSM) is preferred to allocate the participants.