Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-25 @ 2:02 AM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-25 @ 2:02 AM
NCT ID:
NCT01137760
Brief Summary:
The purpose of this research study is to determine whether a functional fiber, galactooligosaccharide, can help maintain immune strength and digestive health in undergraduate students who are undergoing an academic stress (i.e., final exams). Subjects will be asked to consume the fiber or placebo each day for eight weeks. Immune and gastrointestinal health will be evaluated via daily questionnaires obtained from 420 students and from the collection of fecal samples in a subgroup of students.
Detailed Description:
A prospective, randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo controlled design will be used. Healthy full-time undergraduate students undergoing fall 2009 final academic exams will be recruited from the University of Florida. Informed consent will be obtained. All subjects will be consented for the main intervention study and a subgroup (n=25/group or 75 total) of these subjects will also be consented to provide two stool samples at baseline and two stool samples during the week of final exams (approximately week 4 of the intervention). Subjects will be stratified based on gender and randomized (n=140/group) to receive 0 g, 2.5 g, or 5.0 g of the fermentable fiber, galactooligosaccharides, for eight weeks around the time of their fall final exams. Subjects will complete daily online questionnaires asking whether they are experiencing any cold/flu symptoms. Weekly online questionnaires will collect information regarding gastrointestinal symptoms over the past week. The acute psychological stress associated with final exams will increase cold/flu symptoms. It is anticipated that students consuming the galactooligosaccharides versus the placebo will have more healthy days (i.e., days without cold symptoms) due to fiber induced changes in the beneficial bacteria within the colon, which reduces the burden on the immune system.
Study:
NCT01137760
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT01137760