Food4GutMarKIT - Evaluation of a Tailored Personalized Food Concept for a Healthy Gut Microbiota and Validation of Biomarkers for Monitoring of Its Effects

Food4GutMarKIT - Evaluation of a Tailored Personalized Food Concept for a Healthy Gut Microbiota and Validation of Biomarkers for Monitoring of Its Effects

The overall aim in this "proof-of-concept" study is to evaluate if a diet concept, based on foods that have individually been reported to beneficially affect gut microbiota in fact has an effect on gut microbiota composition and activity among healthy and obese subjects and whether the effects are associated with altered cardiometabolic risk factors. The aim is further to investigate if such alterations are reflected in changes of the fecal and plasma metabolome. In total, 40 men and women, who meet all the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be invited to participate in the study. The participants will follow an intervention diet for 6 weeks and a control diet for 6 weeks, with a 6-week wash-out period in between and will be randomized to either begin with the intervention diet or the control diet.

The study will be running over 18 weeks (including a 6-week wash-out period) and it will include 9 visits at the clinic.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women
• Age 18 - 70 years
• BMI 18,5-25 for normal weighed and BMI 25-39 for overweighed/obese
• Hb ≥ 120g/L
• Serum TSH <4,0 mIU/L
• Signed informed consent

Among the overweighed, they need to have waist circumference > 102 cm/88 cm for men and women respectively. All overweighed participants must have one of the following risk factors for cardiovascular decease, whereas the normal weighed could have or not elevated risk factors:

• LDL ≥ 3,0 mmol/L
• HDL ≤1.04 mmol/L
• Total cholesterol ≥ 5.0 mmol/L
• Triglycerider ≥1.69 mmol/L
• Blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg
• Fasting glucose ≥6.1 mmol/L.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Blood donation or participation in a clinical study with blood sampling within 30 days prior to screening visit and throughout the study.
• Following any weight reduction program or having followed one during the last 6 months
• Food allergies or intolerances
• Vegetarian or other diet restrictions (due to the standardized meal plan)
• History of stomach or gastrointestinal conditions (Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, malabsorption, colostomy, bowel resection, gastric bypass surgery etc.)
• Previous major gastrointestinal surgery
• Pregnant or lactating or wish to become pregnant during the period of the study.
• Unable to understand written and spoken Swedish
• Lack of suitability for participation in the trial, for any reason, as judged by the medical doctor or PI.
• Pharmacological medication with drugs known to affect the microbiota, e.g. antibiotics, within 6 months prior to baseline.
• Intake of probiotics within 6 months prior to baseline.
• Have type I diabetes
• Receiving pharmacological treatment for type II diabetes (treatments based on life style interventions are acceptable, as long as it is compatible with the study protocol)
• Using nicotine products on a daily basis (including chewing gum, patches, snus etc.)
• History of heart failure or heart attack (TIA) within 1 year prior to screening
• Thyroid disorder