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Psyllium

Calcium polycarbophil

The participants are allocated to intake the fifteen capsules per day, for example, five capsules three times per day. Altogether the fifteen capsules contains 5.5 g dietary fiber in psyllium husk.

The participants are allocated to intake the fifteen capsules per day, for example, five capsules three times per day. The capsules contain placebo (maltodextrin) and have a similar look as in the experimental arm.

The participants are invited to eat 15 capsules per day. The capsules either contain dietary fiber from psyllium husk or placebo.

Capsules containing either dietary fiber or placebo

Rebecca Ahlin, M.Sc.

Daniel Munkberg, Dietician

Johanna Svensson, MD

Gunnar N Steineck, MD, PhD

Maria Hedelin, PhD

Cecilia Bull, PhD

The investigators hypothesize that an increase in dietary fiber intake during radiation therapy may provide better long-term intestinal health for the cancer survivor. If the hypothesis is not correct, the increased intake may only mean an increase in acute side effects. All participants are advised to consume at least 16 g of dietary fiber/day via food. In addition, participants are invited to take capsules that together contain either 5.5 g of dietary fiber from psyllium husk or placebo.

The overall working hypothesis is that intake of dietary fiber during radiotherapy can mitigate or hinder end states or the triggering of long-lasting pathophysiological processes that decreases intestinal health in the cancer survivor. If correct, there is a dose-effect relationship to be documented. Moreover, if correct, different kinds of dietary fibers may have different effects. Mechanisms for the mitigatory effects may be that dietary fiber helps to preserve the two protective mucus layers and hinder gut-wall starvation. Lack of protection, as well as gut-wall starvation, may decrease the gut walls' integrity. That, in turn, may enhance bacterial migration from the lumen into the gut wall, causing unnecessary inflammation. This inflammation may, in turn, lead to a number of different pathophysiological processes, including a chronic self-propagating low-grade inflammation. Clinical experience suggests the intake of dietary fiber during radiotherapy may increase acute intestinal side effects. Our own data suggest a modest, if any, increase by dietary fiber.

Through recipes of tasty meals by price-winning chefs and general advice, the investigators guide the participant to try to consume at least 16 g of dietary fiber per day via food. The guidance takes place through telephone calls, calls via video link, and text on a website or paper material. The participant gets access to a mobile application that measures the daily intake of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is ingested in 15 capsules with psyllium husk which contains a total of 5.5 g of dietary fiber. The investigators ask the participant to take the capsules two weeks before radiotherapy, during radiotherapy, and to stop four weeks after the end of radiotherapy. Placebo capsules (maltodextrin) are taken in the same way. To document the frequency of acute side effects, and what symptoms they cause, the participant is asked to report patient-reported outcomes once a week via a mobile application. They are also welcome to report side effects to the study office.

One month after the end of radiotherapy, the degree of inflammation is measured via markers in the blood and feces. One year after the end of radiotherapy, intestinal health is measured via patient-reported outcomes. Blood and feces are collected and patient-reported outcomes are reported in questionnaires and a mobile application before, during, and at least one year after the end of radiotherapy. This data will be a source of in-depth analysis. Radiotherapy gives rise to increased intensity of five different syndromes, fecal-leakage syndrome, urgency syndrome, uncontrolled flatulence, excess mucus discharge, and anal blood discharge. Damage of nerves and small vessels, weakening the anal-sphincter function by muscle fibers turning into the connective tissue (fibrosis), may explain some of the intensity of the fecal-leakage syndrome. An ongoing self-propagating low-grade inflammation, small-vessel and nerve damage in the gut wall may be related to urgency. Reasonably the microbiome, and the communication between the microbiome and the gut wall, is related to uncontrolled flatulence and excess mucus discharge. It is not known to what extent telangiectasias on a fibrotic inner gut wall explains anal blood discharge. Ad hoc studies in FIDURA will explore suggested mechanisms.

An interim analysis will be performed for the primary outcome to identify if there is any effect of the intervention, to decide whether to continue or terminate the inclusion of patients in the study. The concentration of c-reactive protein will be analyzed for all included patients who have donated blood to date (May 2023). To ensure that the blinding is not revealed, all analyses (biochemical and statistical) will be made by external personnel not included in the research group. The capsules are marked with X and Y, and the code for which is intervention or placebo will not be revealed even for the external personnel performing the interim analysis.

Random allocation of patients and blinding of researchers, patients, healthcare professionals and outcome assessors.

Capsules that look alike, with dietary fiber or placebo.

Dietary Fiber During Radiotherapy - a Placebo-controlled Randomized Trial

Dietary Fiber During Radiotherapy and Intestinal Inflammation - a Placebo-controlled Randomized Trial (FIDURA)

As soon as we we have started publishing data we will successively make our data available to other researchers.

Metrics obtained from freshly frozen defecated feces. The investigators plan to use next-generation sequencing.

Concentration of c-reactive protein in plasma or serum

Patient-reported outcomes through a validated questionnaire. The metric for the intensity of the urgency syndrome weighs the frequency of several symptoms by factor loadings, as described in PubMed ID 28158314. Examples of the previous usage can be seen in PubMed ID 28366105 and PubMed ID 30601820.

Deviation from the recommended intake of 15 capsules per day

Concentration of selected markers in blood and feces. The selection of cytokines and chemokines for this outcome is work in progress 26 august 2020 and will be be given as updated information later on. In feces we will primarily use elastase and calprotectin.

Patient-reported outcomes through a validated questionnaire. The metric for the intensity of the syndromes weighs the frequency of several symptoms by factor loadings, as described in PubMed ID 28158314. Examples of the previous usage can be seen in PubMed ID 28366105 and PubMed ID 30601820.

Distress from gastrointestinal symptoms as reported through a mobile phone application (ePROMS). Primarily we ask for defecation frequency, stool consistency (Bristol Scale), and frequency of abdominal pain. The participants may also report other side-effects, either by the mobile phone application, video link, or telephone with the study secretariat.

The Swedish Research Council

VGregion

Sjöbergstiftelsen

Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden

Senior Professor

Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Obesity

Body Weight

Weight Loss

Overweight

Overnutrition

Nutrition Disorders

Cola

Participants randomized to the high fiber diet featuring legumes (HLD) will add approximately 30 grams of dietary fiber per day from legume dishes, ensuring a total intake of approximately 50 grams of dietary fiber per day.

Participants randomized to the healthy American diet control arm will receive pre-portioned meal replacement entrées with legumes replaced by lean chicken or meat.

The high fiber diet featuring legumes (HLD) provides pre-portioned entrées for two meals per day in months 1-3, and one meal per day in months 4-6. Participants continue on the diet in months 7-12 but assume responsibility for food preparation. The HLD will contain approximately 250 grams (g) of legumes per day (\~1 ½ cups cooked legumes) in months 1-3 provided in two pre-portioned single serving entrées (i.e. \~125g in each serving). A study nutritionist provides in-person and written guidance for including side dishes that are nutritionally balanced with energy intake to lose 1-2 pounds of weight per week.

High Fiber Diet Featuring Legumes (HLD)

The healthy American diet provides pre-portioned meal replacement entrées with legumes replaced by lean chicken or meat. Participants continue on the diet in months 7-12 but assume responsibility for food preparation. A study nutritionist provides in-person and written guidance for including side dishes that are nutritionally balanced with energy intake to lose 1-2 pounds of weight per week.

Healthy American Diet

Terry Hartman, PhD, MPH, RD

Terry Hartman, PHD, MPH

This study tests whether a high-fiber diet based on legumes, such as dry beans, can lead to sustained reductions in obesity and colon cancer risk in persons at highest risk, namely overweight or obese, post-polypectomy patients.

An important knowledge gap concerns the role of fiber in sustaining reduced energy intake to simultaneously manage weight and influence human colorectal cancer risk. Epidemiologic studies have shown an association between a high fiber diet featuring legumes (HLD) and reduced obesity and lower risk for adenoma recurrence or colorectal cancer. There are many plausible mechanisms to explain why high-fiber diets, and especially a HLD, may reduce colorectal cancer risk. First, fiber is fermented by the colonic microbiota to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA). The SCFA, butyrate, has a remarkable array of colonic mucosal health promoting, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neoplastic properties. Secondly, microbiota break down plant cell walls releasing phytochemicals, which also have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic effects. Thirdly, colonic transit is accelerated, reducing contact time with luminal carcinogens, such as heterocyclic amines formed from cooked red meat, and secondary bile acids, induced by a high fat diet and synthesized by the colonic microbiota.

Dr. Stephen O'Keefe's lab performed a human randomized controlled crossover feeding study (participants receive both diets) comparing high and low- fiber diets. The study measured mucosal biomarkers of cancer risk (proliferation - % epithelial cells staining positive for Ki67, inflammation - cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3)+ intraepithelial lymphocytes, cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68)+ lamina propria macrophages) made by fecal sampling and colonoscopy. Results suggested that within weeks these markers responded favorably to the high-fiber diet with proliferative rates and inflammatory biomarkers decreasing and microbiota composition adapting to increase butyrogenesis.

The researchers of this study have previously found that fiber may also reduce cancer risk indirectly by promoting weight loss, improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing inflammation. On average, individuals consume a similar weight of food daily; thus, replacing energy dense foods (higher kcal/g, e.g., high fat) with lower energy density foods (lower kcal/g), like legumes, should potentiate weight control. Viscous fiber intake is associated with longer gastric emptying times which over time might contribute to postponing the next eating occasion. Diet may also induce changes in gut microbiome composition leading to negative energy balance. Emerging human evidence links the gut microbiome with insulin resistance, inflammation, and obesity and with adenomatous polyps and colon cancer. In this current study, characterizing gut motility, microbiome, and metabolome composition profiles that may influence weight loss and have a role in the prevention or recurrence of adenomas and colorectal cancer, will provide novel and potentially therapeutic information.

The goal of the research is to conduct a clinical trial featuring study-provided pre-portioned entrées and strategic nutritional instruction to guide participants to integrate legumes into a healthy high-fiber diet pattern. Participants will be provided two entrées per day during months 1 through 3, and one entrée per day during months 4 through 6. Participants will continue their diets during months 7 through 12 but will be responsible for food preparation. The research will target a population at high risk for colorectal cancer, overweight and obese participants with a history of a colon polyp in the past 3 years, to test whether a high-legume, high-fiber diet will simultaneously increase weight loss and suppress intestinal biomarkers of cancer risk compared to a control diet (healthy American). In addition, it will explore potential mechanisms through which the high-legume intervention diet facilitates weight loss and intestinal health.

Fiber-rich Foods to Treat Obesity and Prevent Colon Cancer

De-identified participant phenotypic data will be made available for sharing but limited to health/biomedical purposes including age, obesity status, presence of colon polyps and history of diabetes. The data will be coded and only the coded data set, and not the master list, will be shared.

Participants will have their body weight measured (in pounds) on a regularly calibrated digital scale while wearing light clothing without shoes.

Colonic mucosal proliferative biomarker Ki-67+ will be measured.

Colonic mucosal proliferative biomarker Ki-67+ will be measured

Gut transit time is assessed using an indigestible single-use SmartPill capsule, a receiver, and display software. The SmartPill capsules were discontinued and no longer available after 2023 so participants beginning after January 19, 2024 will not complete this assessment.

Fasting plasma insulin, a biomarker of insulin resistance is measured by blood test.

Fasting plasma glucose, a biomarker of insulin resistance, is measured by blood test.

Serum C-reactive protein, an indicator of systemic inflammation, is measured by blood test.

CD3+ intraepithelial lymphocytes, a colonic mucosal inflammatory biomarker of colon cancer risk, will be measured by mucosal biopsy.

CD68+ lamina propia macrophages, a colonic mucosal inflammatory biomarker of colon cancer risk, will be measured by mucosal biopsy.

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization
Dietary Fiber During Radiotherapy - a Placebo-controlled Randomized Trial	NCT04534075	Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Gynecologic Can...	Capsules contai...	18 Years - 80 Years	Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden
Fiber-rich Foods to Treat Obesity and Prevent Colon Cancer	NCT04780477	Colon Cancer Obesity	High Fiber Diet... Healthy America...	40 Years - 75 Years	Emory University
Dietary Fiber During Radiotherapy - a Placebo-controlled Randomized Trial	NCT04534075	Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Malignant Neopl... Gynecologic Can...	Capsules contai...	18 Years - 80 Years	Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden

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