Probiotics, Immunity, Stress, and QofL

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this graduate student research study is to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-strain probiotic and investigate if sex differences influence the role of probiotics on stress and immunity biomarkers.

Detailed Description
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Visit #1 Participants will read and sign informed consent forms, HIPPA form, and SAHP Covid-19 screening form. Participants will perform a baseline oral saliva swab to test for the stress biomarker cortisol and immune markers, including Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). Swabs will be individually packaged. After opening the package, participants will place the swab under their tongue for 1-2 minutes. After swabbing is complete, the swab will be placed into the collection tube and capped immediately. Completed swabs will be placed and held in a sub negative 70° Fahrenheit freezer. Participants will complete a Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (10-15 minutes). As this study is double blinded, participants will be separated by gender (male and female) and will select a 90-day supply of placebo or probiotic sample at random. For each gender group there will be 50 samples to select from, comprised of a mix of 25 placebo and 25 probiotic bottles. Participants will be instructed to take 1 capsule per day for the following 90 days. If a participant misses a day, they should resume taking 1 capsule per day the next day. The capsule should not be crushed or chewed. The capsule may be taken with or without food per participant preference. The participant should consistently take the probiotic at a similar time each day (example: always take it in the morning or evening) Visit #2 Participants will complete the same Quality-of-Life Questionnaire from visit #1 Participants will perform a post-study oral saliva swab in the same manner as visit #1

Official Title
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The Efficacy of Probiotics on Immune and Stress Response and Overall Quality of Life

Conditions
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Stress, Quality of Life

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


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Males and Females 18-90 years of age Participants should be of good health Exclusion Criteria: Women who are self-reported as pregnant and/or breastfeeding Those who suffer from any systemic illness, such as diabetes mellitus, HIV, cancer, or chronic kidney disease. Persons who are diagnosed with clinical depression or anxiety, or other mental health diagnoses such as schizophrenia or Alzheimer's. Persons who have taken any probiotic for 5 or more days in the 3 months prior to the trial Persons having received antibiotics or non-steroid anti-inflammatory therapy in the last 3-month period prior to the study Persons who work night shift Persons who consume probiotic rich foods daily, such as yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, miso, and buttermilk Anyone who is allergic to any ingredient in the probiotic or placebo

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 90 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: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Male Probiotic<br>• Participants will be instructed to take 1 capsule per day for the following 90 days. If a participant misses a day, they should resume taking 1 capsule per day the next day. The capsule should not be crushed or chewed. The capsule may be taken with or without food per participant preference. The participant should consistently take the capsule at a similar time each day (example: always take it in the morning or evening) | Dietary Supplement: Probiotic<br>* The probiotic to be used in the study is in capsule form and consists of 12 bacterial strains and 10-billion colony forming unit (CFU). The product consists of the following bacterial strains and species: Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC SD 6720, Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC SD 6576, Bifidobacterium breve ATCC SD 5206, Bifidobacterium lactis ATCC SD 5220, Bifidobacterium longum ATCC SD 5588, Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 32754, Lactobacillus casei ATCC SD5213, Lactobacillus paracasei ATCC SD 5275, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC SD 5209, Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC SD 6689, Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103, Lactobacillus salivarius ATCC SD 5208) in combination with the prebiotic, xylooligosacharide (XOS).<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Male Placebo<br>• Participants will be instructed to take 1 capsule per day for the following 90 days. If a participant misses a day, they should resume taking 1 capsule per day the next day. The capsule should not be crushed or chewed. The capsule may be taken with or without food per participant preference. The participant should consistently take the capsule at a similar time each day (example: always take it in the morning or evening) | Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* A placebo, that will be indistinguishable in appearance to the probiotic, will be provided to half of all study participants for the length of the trial. It will contain the following ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, a vegetarian capsule, and silicon dioxide. The probiotic will be manufactured by MeriCal.<br>|
| Experimental: Female Probiotic<br>• Participants will be instructed to take 1 capsule per day for the following 90 days. If a participant misses a day, they should resume taking 1 capsule per day the next day. The capsule should not be crushed or chewed. The capsule may be taken with or without food per participant preference. The participant should consistently take the capsule at a similar time each day (example: always take it in the morning or evening) | Dietary Supplement: Probiotic<br>* The probiotic to be used in the study is in capsule form and consists of 12 bacterial strains and 10-billion colony forming unit (CFU). The product consists of the following bacterial strains and species: Bifidobacterium infantis ATCC SD 6720, Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC SD 6576, Bifidobacterium breve ATCC SD 5206, Bifidobacterium lactis ATCC SD 5220, Bifidobacterium longum ATCC SD 5588, Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 32754, Lactobacillus casei ATCC SD5213, Lactobacillus paracasei ATCC SD 5275, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC SD 5209, Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC SD 6689, Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103, Lactobacillus salivarius ATCC SD 5208) in combination with the prebiotic, xylooligosacharide (XOS).<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Female Placebo<br>• Participants will be instructed to take 1 capsule per day for the following 90 days. If a participant misses a day, they should resume taking 1 capsule per day the next day. The capsule should not be crushed or chewed. The capsule may be taken with or without food per participant preference. The participant should consistently take the capsule at a similar time each day (example: always take it in the morning or evening) | Dietary Supplement: Placebo<br>* A placebo, that will be indistinguishable in appearance to the probiotic, will be provided to half of all study participants for the length of the trial. It will contain the following ingredients: Microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium stearate, a vegetarian capsule, and silicon dioxide. The probiotic will be manufactured by MeriCal.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Saliva Sample Cortisol | Baseline and post-study oral saliva samples will be tested for the stress biomarker cortisol uL. | Change in cortisol uL between baseline and 90 days | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Saliva Sample IL-1 | Baseline and post-study oral saliva samples will be tested for Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) uL. | Change in Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) uL between baseline and 90 days | 
| Saliva Sample Tumor Necrosis Factor | Baseline and post-study oral saliva samples will be tested for Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) uL. | Change in Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) uL between baseline and 90 days |