NCT04491266

Brief Summary

Accumulating evidence is showing that gut microbiota could play a key role in gastrointestinal tract and immune system development and function. Many beneficial effects elicited by gut microbiota are mediated its metabolites. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are major metabolites produced by gut microbiota. Among SCFA, butyrate has emerged as pivotal regulator of many gastrointestinal function and immune system development and function. Butyrate is produced by intestinal microbial fermentation of resistant starches and dietary fiber. It regulates several beneficial intestinal and extra-intestinal functions, among the first it serves as the primary energy source for the gut epithelium, increases mineral absorption, stimulates proliferation and differentiation of normal colon epithelial cells, improves the gut barrier function by stimulation of the formation of mucin, antimicrobial peptides, and tight-junction proteins, interacts with the immune system and has anti-inflammatory effects. Butyrate also seems to regulate the expression of antimicrobial peptides in particular upregulating transcription of cathelicidin thanks to his action of histone deacetylase inhibitor and it has been shown to induce human β-defensin 2 (HBD-2) mRNA expression in colonocytes, although there are few publications reporting its regulation of defensins (Berni Canani R et al. W J Gastroenterol. 2011;17(12):1519). Preliminary data showed that breast milk contains butyrate. Butyrate could be an ideal compound for infant formulas for an efficient regulation of a number of protective actions at gastrointestinal tract level and at systemic level. A new butyrate releaser, useful for all the known applications of butyrate, presenting physiochemical characteristics suitable for easy oral administration (free from unpleasant organoleptic properties of butyrate): N-(1-carbamoyl-2-phenyl-ethyl) butyramide (FBA) has been developed. The molecule is a butyrate amide with the amino acid phenylalanine, solid, odourless, tasteless, stable at gastric pH, and able to release butyrate constantly throughout gastrointestinal tract. The aim of the study was to evaluate tolerability and safety profile of a nutritional intervention with FBA in formula fed at term neonates. The effects on the expression of innate immunity biomarkers as well as on neonatal gut function were also assessed.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
60

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2012

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 9, 2012

Completed
2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 31, 2013

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2013

Completed
6.6 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 25, 2020

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 29, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

August 12, 2020

Status Verified

August 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

July 25, 2020

Last Update Submit

August 11, 2020

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • safety and tolerability: adverse events

    number and proportion of subjects with adverse events

    up to 28 days

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • percentage of subjects with infantile colics

    up to 28 days

  • daily number of bowel movements

    up to 28 days

  • stool consistency

    up to 28 days

  • daily number of regurgitation episodes

    up to 28 days

  • fecal levels of of β-defensins 2 (HβD-2)

    up to 28 days

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

FBA

EXPERIMENTAL

N-(1-carbamoyl-2-phenyl-ethyl) butyramide (FBA) has been developed.

Dietary Supplement: FBA

placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

maltodextrins

Dietary Supplement: placebo

Interventions

FBADIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

N-(1-carbamoyl-2-phenyl-ethyl) butyramide (FBA) has been developed.

FBA
placeboDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

maltodextrins

placebo

Eligibility Criteria

AgeUp to 3 Days
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17)

You may qualify if:

  • otherwise healthy formula fed-neonates
  • born at term (\>37 gestational age)
  • adequate weight for gestational age

You may not qualify if:

  • twins,
  • infants with history of severe asphyxia,
  • meconium aspiration syndrome,
  • immunodeficiency,
  • congenital infections,
  • genetic diseases and chromosomal abnormalities,
  • malformations,
  • insufficient reliability or presence of conditions that made the patient's compliance with the protocol unlikely,
  • infants with any other condition which, in the opinion of the Investigator, is likely to interfere with the ability of the infant to ingest food, or the normal growth and development of the infant, or the evaluation of the infant.
  • history of immune diseases,
  • tumors,
  • infectious or inflammatory diseases that required antibiotic therapy during pregnancy,
  • diabetes,
  • gestosis,
  • dyslipidemia,
  • +2 more criteria

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Naples Federico II

Naples, 80131, Italy

Location

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
OTHER
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 25, 2020

First Posted

July 29, 2020

Study Start

January 9, 2012

Primary Completion

December 31, 2013

Study Completion

December 31, 2013

Last Updated

August 12, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-08

Locations