The Influence of Oral Probiotics on the Microbiome and Lipidome

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to measure oil production of the face, facial properties, and gut bacteria in people being given oral probiotics. Probiotic supplements contain active cultures of bacteria that are thought to be beneficial to human health.The investigators want to find out if probiotics taken by mouth alter the bacteria in subject's gut and subject's skin oil production compared to a placebo. This is a single blind study and subject may receive a probiotic or a placebo for the first half of the study and a placebo or a probiotic for the second half of the study. Subject will not know what was given to participants.

Detailed Description
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Antibiotics are widely used within dermatology for the treatment of chronic skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis. Previous studies have shown that oral probiotics may be beneficial for skin disesaes such as atopic dermatitis and acne, but a mechanism for how the gut communicates to the skin remains elusive. The balance between short chain fatty acids and long chain fatty acids has been proposed as one factor in how bacteria in the gut are able to communicate with the rest of the body. Studies in Dr. Sivamani's lab have shown that subjects with acne have a reduced level of short chain fatty acids in their blood when compared to age-matched control (unpublished). The aim of this study is to understand how oral probiotics may alter the gut microbiome and if they can augment the short chain fatty acids in the blood lipidome. Ultimately, the investigator's goal is to find suitable alternatives for the use of antibiotics in the treatment of chronic skin conditions so that the amount of antibiotics that are in use can be reduced.

Official Title
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The Influence of Oral Probiotics on the Microbiome and Lipidome

Conditions
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Gut Microbiome, Skin Microbiome, Gut Lipidome, Skin Lipidome, Blood Lipidome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Probiotic
* Other: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria • 18 years of age or older Exclusion criteria Those on oral antibiotics within a month of initiating the study. Subjects must have no history of diabetes, known cardiovascular disease, known immunocompromised condition, malignancy, kidney disease, or chronic steroid use. Subjects must have no history or diagnosis of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases. Those with BMI higher than 30 kg/m² Those on topical medications to the face such as retinoids or antibiotics who are not willing or medical unable (in the judgement of the investigator) to discontinue use for two weeks prior to the study and for the duration of study participation. Those that have undergone a change in hormonally based therapies, such as but not limited to oral contraceptive pills or progesterone based pills within the last two months. Progesterone releasing IUDs are considered hormone releasing therapy. Use of medications that alter blood lipids, such as statins and anti-hyperlipidemic medications Current tobacco smokers, OR those that have smoked tobacco over the past year, OR a 5 year-pack year history of smoking tobacco Pregnant women Prisoners Adults unable to consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Probiotic<br>• Probiotic fomula per capsule: 2 Billion CFUs HU36 - 30 mg HU58 - 20 mg Bacillus clausii -25 mg Bacillus coagulans 10B - 35 mg Prepro - 22 mg. The prebiotic that is to be used in the proprietary blend is a vegetable grade cellulose. | Dietary Supplement: Probiotic<br>* • Probiotic fomula per capsule: 2 Billion CFUs HU36 - 30 mg HU58 - 20 mg Bacillus clausii -25 mg Bacillus coagulans 10B - 35 mg Prepro - 22 mg. The prebiotic that is to be used in the proprietary blend is a vegetable grade cellulose.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Rice flour only | Other: Placebo<br>* Rice flour only<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blood Lipidome Changes | The primary objective is to assess if probiotics rich in the production of short chain fatty acids can shift the blood lipidome to have a higher level of short chain fatty acids | 8 weeks +/- 1 week | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gut Microbiome Changes | Specifically the presence of short chain fatty acid producing bacteria | 8 weeks +/- 1 week | 
| Sebum Production | Sebum production will be measured via Sebumeter device that will calculate sebum in micrograms/centimeter^2 | 8 weeks +/- 1 week | 
| Hydration | Hydration will be measured via Moisturemeter device that will measure hydration in arbitrary units (AU) | 8 weeks +/- 1 week |