Improving Health Outcomes With Kefir

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA · Nov 15, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called "Improving Health Outcomes With Kefir," is looking at whether drinking traditional kefir can help improve heart health and strengthen the immune system for people at risk of or living with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Over 12 weeks, participants will consume kefir to see if it makes a difference in their health. The study aims to include both men and women aged 24 to 70 who are living in or near Edmonton and are either overweight or have been diagnosed with T2D.

To participate, individuals should have a higher risk of diabetes, which means their blood sugar levels are above normal but not too high, or they should already have T2D. However, those who have recently eaten a lot of fermented foods or have certain health conditions, like gastrointestinal disorders or serious diseases affecting the kidneys or liver, will not be eligible to join. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it offers an exciting opportunity for those who qualify to learn more about how kefir could help improve their health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. females and males (24-70 years old) living in Edmonton (or Edmonton area/driving distance);
• • 2. overweight or obesity (BMI \>25 Caucasian, \>23 Asian);
• • 3. at higher risk of T2D (fasting blood glucose ≥ 5.6 - 6.9 mmol/L or/and HbA1C ≥ 5.5 - 6.4%); or
• • 4. with diagnosis of T2D (fasting blood glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L or/and HbA1C ≥ 6.5%).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. a usual high intake (maximum intake 3 servings/week) of fermented foods excluding cheese (i.e., kefir, kombucha, kimchi, etc.) for the past 3 months;
• • 2. gastrointestinal (GI) disorders of any kind;
• • 3. being pregnant or breastfeeding;
• • 4. monogenic dyslipidemias and endocrine disorders except for diabetes;
• • 5. use of medications within the last 3 months (i.e., antibiotics or antifungals, corticosteroids, methotrexate, or immunosuppressive cytotoxic agents);
• • 6. any health conditions deemed to interfere with primary outcomes at the investigator's discretion (e.g., kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, GI surgery, heavy alcohol consumption, etc.);
• • 7. having a pacemaker or any electrical medical device that prevents the individual from undergoing the bioelectrical impedance analysis bioimmunoassay (BIA) test."