Effect of Phytin on Human Gut Microbiome (EPoM)
Condition: Diet Modification
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Within many plants, such as seeds, nuts and cereals, there is a compound called phytic acid.
      Phytic acid has many beneficial properties, including producing molecules which slows down
      the damage that can be caused to other molecules within the body. Phytic acid has also been
      known to help in the treatment of cancer. Phytic acid binds iron very strongly. Iron is an
      extremely important nutrient not only for humans, but also for a lot of bacteria. In humans,
      iron is absorbed in the small intestine. Unfortunately, iron does not get absorbed very well
      and so a lot of it travels into the large intestine. The large intestine contains trillions
      of bacteria and a lot of these bacteria use iron as food. However, not all bacteria in the
      large intestine are 'good bacteria'. Some bacteria, such as Enterobacteria, can be harmful to
      people's health. For this reason, if iron is kept away from these 'bad bacteria' through the
      binding of phytic acid and iron, it could prove to be beneficial to human health. In general,
      the gut contains trillions of bacteria, many of which help to unlock extra nutrients from the
      food people eat. Some bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria, are often referred to as 'good
      bacteria' and are added to foods such as yoghurts. Many 'good bacteria' are able to survive
      without iron and this makes it even more important to make sure the 'bad bacteria' have
      limited access to iron. Otherwise, it is possible that the large intestine could populate
      more more harmful bacteria than beneficial bacteria.

      In this study, investigators will ask participants to consume either the test capsule, which
      contains phytin (a salt form of phytic acid), or a control capsule, which contains a powder
      resembling phytin but is actually an inactive substance. The investigators are interested in
      whether consuming these capsules will decrease Enterobacteria (one of the 'bad bacteria' in
      the large intestine).
    

Detailed description: 
      The study will take place at the Clinical Research Facility (CRF) at the Quadram Institute in
      Norwich, with participants attending the QI CRF for screening and to collect the capsules for
      consumption (capsules will be randomly allocated, containing either phytin or placebo
      (microcrystalline cellulose)). The participants will be recruited from within a 40-mile
      radius of Norwich and this is clearly stated in the Participant Information Sheet (PIS). In
      this study, male and female participants aged between 18 and 50 years will be recruited until
      14 participants complete the study. The participants will consume the randomly allocated
      capsules (containing either phytin or placebo), and collect their faecal samples at their
      home.

      The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether the delivery of phytin to the colon will
      cause a decrease in the proportions of human gut enterobacteriaceae, and a potential
      concomitant increase in the proportion of human gut bifidobacteriaceae, through chelation of
      iron.
    

Intervention name(s): Phytin, rice extract; MCC, placebo
Intervention type(s): Dietary Supplement; Other
Intervention description(s): Consumption of a rice extract, called phytin for a period of 2 weeks; Consumption of MCC, a placebo, for a period of 2 week
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Basic Science