SCD vs. Mediterranean Diet Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis Clinical Trial

Official title: Specific Carbohydrate Diet vs. Mediterranean Diet Therapy in Ulcerative Colitis - A Clinical Trial

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

Although patients and physicians have shown tremendous interest in the effect of diet on ulcerative colitis, there is a lack of significant evidence for providers to make practical recommendations with. In this study, the investigators hope to find out if dietary therapy by either the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) or the Mediterranean diet will help improve ulcerative colitis symptoms for patients with mild to moderately active disease. In addition, the investigators will compare disease activity and changes in the intestinal bacterial composition in the colon that occur with the Mediterranean or the SCD diet in active ulcerative colitis.

This study is proposed as a single-site randomized trial consisting of 10 study visits to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) over 12 weeks. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to the SCD or Mediterranean diet. The investigators ask that participants exclusively consume their assigned diet for 6 weeks, with all meals and snacks prepared by the metabolic kitchen within MGH. Participants will need to pick up food from MGH every 5-7 days, and will meet with a study dietitian before they begin and weekly during the diet therapy.

There will be a screening visit to determine eligibility for the study, as well as study visits at weeks 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and a 10 week follow-up at MGH, in which participants will fill out questionnaires. Participants will need to provide stool samples at screening, week 6, and week 10. In addition, blood will be drawn at week 0 and week 6, and if participants are getting a clinically-indicated colonoscopy at the time of screening, up to eight research biopsies may be collected during the procedure.

Clinical Trial Description

This randomized, parallel-group feeding study will examine the influence of Mediterranean and SCD diets on gut microbiota, luminal inflammation, and disease-specific clinical indices in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). 50 patients will be randomized to follow either the SCD or Mediterranean diet in a 1:1 ratio. Once informed consent is obtained, subjects will enter a 2-week screening period. Eligible subjects will be enrolled in the feeding treatment for 6 weeks followed by an additional follow-up visit at 10 weeks (4 weeks after feeding treatment completion). The total time to complete the study is 12 weeks. The metabolic kitchen within the Metabolism and Nutrition Research Center at MGH Translational and Clinical Research (TCRC) Unit will be responsible for preparing and packaging food for participants to pick up, as well as performing all necessary nutritional assessments. Participants will be provided with 3 meals and 2 snacks a day during the 6-week dietary intervention. Patient menus will be identical in each diet and will rotate on a 3-day basis. Total calories for each diet will be tailored according to each participant's body composition. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Colitis
• Colitis, Ulcerative
• Ulcer
• Ulcerative Colitis

• NCT number: NCT04398550
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Contact: Hamed Khalili, MD, MPH
• Phone: 978-882-6709
• Email: hkhalili@partners.org
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 3, 2020
• Completion date: December 31, 2023