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Active, not recruitingNCT03370614IBSUpdated Nov 29, 2024

Pilot Study of the Physiological Effects of an Integrative Medicine Approach in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

An observational study in Irritable Bowel Syndrome, sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University. Active, not recruiting at 2 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-11-29.

Sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
50
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Although underutilized, what is emerging as one of the best ways of evaluating inflammation in the body, particularly in difficult to observe regions, is through the use of Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). FDG is taken up in the body much like glucose and is particularly taken up in areas of inflammation where there is increased metabolism. Therefore, this technology can be used to assess inflammation, and measure the reduction in inflammation as the result of integrative interventions that target dietary modifications designed to reduce inflammation. With this proposed study, we plan to use FDG PET-MRI technology to develop a more specific and sensitive approach for evaluating areas of inflammation associated with IBS and measuring improvements in that inflammation in response to effective integrative interventions.

Read the detailed description

The typical goal of the integrative medicine approach is to develop an individualized plan to help restore homeostasis to the gastrointestinal system targeting a reduction in inflammation as an important element in helping to relieve symptoms. One of the most problematic issues though is to determine where in the GI tract the inflammation is occurring and then evaluating improvements in inflammation as any intervention proceeds.

Participants will undergo a small battery of diagnostic tests that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). A secondary goal of this study is to evaluate the utility of FDG PET-MRI for assessing reductions in inflammation in patients managed with an integrative medicine approach based upon diet and nutritional counselling.

02

Conditions studied

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Keywords

  • PET
  • MRI
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Irritable Bowel
  • Positron emission tomography
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • FDG
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Subjects will be recruited only if they experience symptoms of IBS.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria for IBS Subjects:

  1. Age greater than 18 years old.
  2. Meets the Rome III criteria for IBS: Recurrent abdominal pain or discomfort at least 3 days per month in the last 3 months associated with 2 or more of the following: 1) Improvement with defecation; 2) Onset associated with a change in frequency of stool; 3) Onset associated with a change in form (appearance) of stool.
  3. Patients have no other pre-existing and active significant gastrointestinal medical, neurological, or psychological disorders as per review by the PI
  4. Minor, stable health problems that should have no substantial effect on cerebral blood flow will be allowed (i.e. controlled hypertension, medication controlled diabetes) as per review by the PI.
  5. Patients will be allowed to be taking medications or supplements at the initial intake, but they must be on a stable dose regimen for at least 1 month.
  6. Able to give informed consent and willing to complete the study.

Inclusion criteria for Healthy Controls:

  1. No significant current active medical conditions.
  2. Stable medical conditions as determined by the PI are allowed.
  3. No brain or body abnormalities that would affect the acquisition or analysis of the scan.

Exclusion Criteria for IBS Subjects and Healthy Controls:

  1. Previous abdominal (bowel) surgery.
  2. Not continuously taking antioxidants or anti-inflammatory medications ( to be reviewed by the PI.
  3. No other active medical conditions potentially requiring changes in treatment regimen during the study duration.
  4. Not pregnant or breast feeding
  5. Enrollment in active clinical trial/ experimental therapy within the prior 30 days.
  6. Subject is unable or unwilling to lie still in the scanner (i.e. due to claustrophobia or weight > 350 pounds)
  7. Subject has metal in their body or other reason that they cannot undergo magnetic resonance imaging.
04

Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • IBS Group

    Participants will complete initial baseline and follow up IBS evaluations and questionnaires. Pre and Post FDG-PET-MR scans will be conducted to evaluate changes at baseline and approximately 2 months after dietary and nutritional counseling.

    Other: IBS Group

  • Healthy Control Group

    Participants will complete initial baseline evaluations and questionnaires. Participants will also receive a FDG-PET-MR scan.

    Other: Healthy Control Group

Interventions

  • OtherIBS Group

    Participants will receive approximately 2 months of dietary and nutritional counseling.

  • OtherHealthy Control Group

    Participants will not receive any dietary or nutritional counseling.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Combined PET/MRI to define IBS activity and inflammation pattern.

    To use PET-MRI to define abnormal brain and body activity and evaluate changes in inflammation for IBS patients.

    Time frame: Baseline and 2 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Use combined PET/MRI to demonstrate brain and body activity in responders and non-responders.

    Patterns will be compared between those who respond and those who do not respond to dietary/nutritional program.

    Time frame: Baseline and 2 months

Other outcomes

  1. Beck Depression Inventory.

    This assessment questionnaire will be used as one of the evaluation questionnaires for the study.

    Time frame: Baseline and 2 months

  2. Standard Form (SF) 36

    This 36 item assessment questionnaire will be used as one of the evaluation questionnaires for the study.

    Time frame: Baseline and 2 months

  3. Profile of Mood Scale

    The Profile of Mood States (POMS) is a questionnaire of 65 single word items that asks "How have you been feeling in the past week including today." The subjects will select their response to each word that describes a mood or feeling on a Lickert scale from 1= Not at All, 2= A Little, 3=Moderately, 4=Quite a lot, to 5=Extremely. The responses are scored to generate values for Tension, Anger, Confusion, Depression and Vigor. The higher scores indicate a greater presence of that mood or state.

    Time frame: Baseline and 2 months

  4. Self-Evaluation Questionnaire

    This assessment questionnaire will be used as one of the evaluation questionnaires for the study.

    Time frame: Baseline and 2 months

  5. Symptom Diary

    This assessment questionnaire will be used as one of the evaluation questionnaires for the study.

    Time frame: Baseline and 2 months

06

Study locations

2 sites
  • Thomas Jefferson University, Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Centers
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, United States
  • Thomas Jefferson University, Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Centers
    Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, United States
07

References and documents

Study documents

  • Informed consent form · Jun 6, 2019

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03370614
Lead sponsor
Thomas Jefferson University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Dec 12, 2017
Start date
May 4, 2017
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 30, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 29, 2024

Study contacts

Andrew B. Newberg, MD
principal investigator · Thomas Jefferson University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Nov 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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