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RecruitingNCT06372249Updated Mar 4, 2026

A Clinical Trial of Soluble Fiber for Asthma

A Phase 2 interventional study of Inulin in Asthma in Children, sponsored by Phoenix Children's Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 6 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-04.

Sponsored by Phoenix Children's Hospital · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
105
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
6 Years to 17 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Randomized controlled trial of soluble fiber (Fruitafit Inulin). Participants will complete an ASA 24 dietary recall questionnaire to access their fiber intake. If eligible for the study, participants will be supplemented to their target fiber dosage with either soluble fiber (Fruitafit Inulin) or placebo. Collection of blood serum, fecal samples, and nasal wash will aid in analyzing the microbes present in one's gut and how fiber and diet may impact it. Thus, allowing researchers to better understand the pathways that may connect diet and asthma and if it is possible to improve asthma by altering one's diet.

Read the detailed description

A Phase II randomized, controlled, clinical trial analyzing the impact of increasing fiber intake and the gut microbiome for children with asthma. If eligible, (determined by inclusions/exclusion criteria as well as fiber intake assess by ASA 24) participants will be put into a fiber (Fruitafit Inulin) or placebo (Maltodextrin) group. Each participant will fil out an Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), collect a nasal wash, and have their blood drawn. Their study medication will be available for them to pick up after their first visit, and they will receive counseling from the Pharmacist on how to implement it into their diet. They will also be sent home with three stool sample kits to be mailed to Northern Arizona University for microbiome and metabolomic analysis. The first kit will be sent within 7 days of their first visit. The second kit will be sent within 14 days (+/- 1 day) of their first visit. The second study visit will occur 25 days (+5 days) after the first visit. All the procedures will be repeated again including taking the ASA 24 questionnaire. The participant will send their final kit within 7 days of completing their last visit. Total study time is approx 30 days. This study is minimal risk which includes risk of fecal contamination, discomfort from collecting specimens, discomfort with answering some of the survey questions, and the risks associated with receiving a blood draw. Participants are compensated for their time and receive a portion of their dietary results. There may not be a direct benefit to the participant, but by participating in this research they may help people in the future with asthma.

02

Conditions studied

  • Asthma in Children

Keywords

  • Asthma
  • Mild Asthma
  • Moderate Asthma
  • Severe Asthma
  • Allergies
  • Environmental Allergies
  • Controlled Asthma
  • Well-Controlled Asthma
  • Diet
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Dietary Supplementation
  • Micro-biome
  • Gut-microbiome
  • Children
  • Child
  • Microbiome Analysis
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
6 Years to 17 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Between ages 6-17
  • Asthma diagnosis within the last 2 years
  • Fractional excretion of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) > 50 ppb OR a clinical history of environmental allergies as defined by a positive skin prick or positive specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) tests to aeroallergens
  • No emergency department visits in the past 1 month
  • Ability to consume a liquid drink of fiber or placebo
  • Ability to return for a 4-6 week follow-up visit
  • No special or unique diet

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Change in asthma medicines other than short acting bronchodilators planned over the next 4-6 weeks
  • Baseline estimated daily fiber intake less than or equal to 16 grams as determined by the ASA 24
  • Sibling of a participant already enrolled in the study
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
105 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • No intervention
    Fiber Consumption and the Gut Microbiome Composition in a Pediatric Asthma Cohort

    Participants are asked to complete a dietary recall questionnaire (ASA 24) that evaluates dietary intake in the last 24 hours. Participants are also sent home with a stool kit and instructions to collect a fecal sample for microbiome analysis. The purpose of the study is to better understand the pathways that connect diet and asthma.

  • Placebo comparator
    A Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial of Soluble Fiber for Asthma

    Participants are asked to fill out a dietary recall questionnaire (ASA 24) to determine eligibility in the study. If eligible, a nasal wash and blood sample will be collected at the first visit. Study drug or placebo will be given to participant after their visit in a randomized double-blinded nature. The participant will also fil out an Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and be sent home with 3 stool kits for analysis. Participant will turn in one sample after first visit, the second in three weeks, and the last one after the second study visit. At this second study visit, procedures from the first study visit will be repeated.

    Drug: Inulin

Interventions

  • DrugInulin

    Soluble tapioca starch from Ingredion.

    Also known as: Fruitafit CLR

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Alpha diversity.

    A total of 84 participants is required to find significant difference of 54 units of Richness at 90% power with a small effect size. Alpha diversity is used to measure the abundance that individual microbes can be observed. Statistical analysis is used to generate the significance of stool sample diversity as well as how many participants are needed to see the marker.

    Time frame: 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Asthma control.

    Assessed via Asthma Control Questionnaire. Scores can range from 0 to 6. With a higher score indicating poor asthma control.

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  2. Gut microbiome composition.

    Analysis of gut microbiome using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  3. Nasal inflammatory response.

    Measured via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

    Time frame: 6 weeks

  4. Quantification of circulating short chain fatty acids.

    Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) will be collected and analyzed via microbiome and metabolomic analyses of stool samples and blood serum samples.

    Time frame: 6 weeks

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
07

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Jan 17, 2024

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
NCT06372249
Lead sponsor
Phoenix Children's Hospital
Collaborators
Northern Arizona University, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Southwest Health Engagement and Research Collaborative, SHERC
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 17, 2024
Start date
Nov 10, 2025
Primary completion
May 31, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
May 31, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 4, 2026

Study contacts

Daniel Gastaldo
Contact
dgastaldo@phoenixchildrens.com
6029334979
Matthew Rank
Contact
Rank.Matthew@mayo.edu
Matthew Rank
principal investigator · Phoenix Children's

Oversight

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

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