Gut Microbiome and Blood Markers After Habitual Herbal Tea Consumption — SRTT  

Obesity Clinical Trial

Official title: TeTrimTeas: Gut Microbiome and Blood Lipid Markers After Habitual Herbal Tea Consumption

Status Active, not recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

TeTrimTeas intends is to establish a long-term cooperative with local growers and producers who will become partners in the business, with profit share to local growers and producers. The overall aim of the company is to produce quality, science-based botanical/herbal teas to improve health and wellbeing, growing as many of the ingredients locally and organically, to reduce food-to-fork miles within the decarbonisation and sustainability agendas in Wales.

TeTrimTeas have created herbal green tea blends, improving on existing Chinese formulation, and would like to test it as 'health tea'. The recruited cohort will be randomised into one of three intervention teas (green tea control, senna herbal mix and rhubarb root herbal mix). They would like to explore if consumption of the teas for 21 days has an impact on digestion and potentially help control weight gain.

Aberystwyth University will use high resolution metabolomics to investigate the chemical composition of capillary blood samples, in particular the short chain fatty acids. They will also assess lipid composition in capillary bloods and the microbiome of stools. Diet data, stool consistency and anthropometric measurements will be collected pre and post intervention. Results will advance product development and data would be used in grant applications into the health benefits of the herbal teas.

Clinical Trial Description

TeTrimTeas has created herbal green tea blends, improving on existing Chinese formulation, and would like to test it as 'health tea'. The recruited cohort will be randomised into one of three intervention teas (green tea control, senna herbal mix and rhubarb root herbal mix). This will be double blinded so neither the participant nor the researcher will know what group they have been allocated into. Information can be disclosed at the end of the study. Participants will come to WARU or Trimsaran Community Health Centre for induction and study visits.

The experimental sequence

'Diet-monitoring' period (two days before the study)

Prior to the experimental session it is important that all participants undergo a period where foods are recorded. This will help the researchers interpret any results after consumption of the test/control food. The researchers would ask them to refrain from taking any over-the-counter medication (such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, aspirin, cough/ cold remedies) or herbal supplements, and to let us know if they find that it is necessary to take any such medication during the trial.

Experimental session- 21 days

Morning: Participants will come to WARU or Trimsaran Community Health Centre for their pre-organised timeslot to allow researchers to collect a fasted capillary (fingerpick) blood samples and stool sample. They may consume their breakfast after their visit. They will also collect their tea bags. Researchers will also take participants weight and height and collect diet data (PDQS) and stool scores (Bristol Stool scale).

Over 21 days: the researchers would ask the participants to consume a cup of tea after their last meal/snack of the day (post 6pm) daily, for 21 days. The researchers would ask them not to consume anything after the tea. In a cup/mug the researchers would ask them to place a 2.5g tea bag and add 190ml of hot water (80-100◦C) and stir clockwise 10 consecutive times to allow for optimal infusion and then allow to brew for 5 minutes, before removal.

After the experimental period:

Before their final visit (or at their final visit): the researchers would like participants to fill in another food questionnaire and a stool scale.

Morning of their final visit. The researchers would ask the participant to come to WARU or Trimsaran Community Health Centre for their pre-organised timeslot to allow us to collect a fasted capillary (fingerpick) blood samples and stool sample. The researchers will also take their weight and height. They may consume their breakfast after their visit. Afterwards, they can go back to their 'normal' eating pattern. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Obesity
• Well-being

• NCT number: NCT05862532
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Aberystwyth University
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Early Phase 1
• Start date: November 17, 2022
• Completion date: May 31, 2023