NCT07333313

Brief Summary

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by insufficient insulin secretion or insulin resistance, leading to hyperglycemia. Chronic inflammation and immune system dysfunction are characteristic of DM and can produce a plethora of cytokines and chemokines, thereby contributing to diabetic complications such as cardiovascular events and diabetic vasculopathy in DM. Besides, about 25% of people with diabetes eventually develop diabetic kidney disease (DKD). DKD is a consequence of DM with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which may abruptly increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its mortality rate compared with diabetes alone. Therefore, the modulation of the systemic inflammation may have the opportunity to improve both hyperglycemia and diabetic complications including vasculopathy and DKD. Activated charcoal has been used clinically as a toxin absorbent. Some recent preclinical and clinical observations found the potential benefits and diverse effects of activated charcoal on inflammatory proteins, suggesting its potential immune modulation effects in CKD and related diseases. The current project is then designed to test the hypothesis that oral activated charcoal may be used as an anti-inflammatory strategy for diabetic complications especially DKD. We have recently demonstrated the renal protective effects of a new oral form of non-absorbable activated bamboo charcoal (ABC) in an animal model. With OMICs studies, a growing preclinical and clinical evidence supports the theory that gut microbiome is a major contributor to adverse cardiovascular outcomes and progression of CKD, and the gut microbiota and its metabolites have the potential to be a novel therapeutic and preventative target for CKD. Additionally, current finding suggests that lncRNAs are involved in cardiovascular (CV) health and diseases. However, there is no report on the impact of gut microbiota on the host circulating lncRNA expression signature and the potential link between gut microbiota, circulating lncRNA levels changes and CKD. Although studies of probiotics which have benefits of CKD patients are numerous, few studies evaluated the effect of coadministration of activated charcoal/probiotics on the patients with CKD. In this 12-month trial, 120 DKD subjects will be enrolled for each group (CKD group 1: CKD stage 3A; group 2: CKD stage 3B; group 3: CKD stage 4; and group 4: CKD stage 5). Each group of patients will be randomized into 6 subgroups A, B, C, D, E and F. Group A patients will receive ABC 2.3g three times a day in addition to standard care in the first 6 months, but group B patients will receive the same dosage of ABC in the last 6 months. Group C patients will receive probiotics 2g twice a day in addition to standard care in the first 6 months, but group D patients will receive the same dosage of probiotics in the last 6 months. Group E patients will receive ABC 2.3g three times a day and probiotics 2g twice a day in addition to standard care in the first 6 months, but group F patients will receive the same dosage of ABC and probiotics in the last 6 months. All patients will receive clinical assessments and examinations (gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins including CCL4, long-chain noncoding (lnc)RNAs, and uremic toxins) at baseline and every 3 months thereafter for 12 months.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
300

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
45mo left

Started Dec 2024

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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 Progress27%
Dec 2024Dec 2029

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 31, 2024

Completed
7 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 15, 2025

Completed
6 months until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 12, 2026

Completed
3.2 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 31, 2029

Expected
9 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2029

Last Updated

January 15, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

4.2 years

First QC Date

July 15, 2025

Last Update Submit

January 14, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • The change of eGFR

    eGFR is estimated GFR calculated by the abbreviated MDRD equation : 186 x (Creatinine/88.4)-1.154 x (Age)-0.203 x (0.742 if female) x (1.210 if black).

    -6th month,-3th month,baseline,random, 3th month and 6th month

Secondary Outcomes (1)

  • The change of UACR

    baseline, 3th month and 6th month

Study Arms (3)

oral uremic toxin absorbent

OTHER

Based on these previous findings, we will conduct a prospective randomized open blinded end-point (PROBE) study to see if oral uremic toxin absorbent + probiotics to modulate systemic inflammation and retard the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes.

Dietary Supplement: oral uremic toxin absorbent

probiotics

OTHER

Based on these previous findings, we will conduct a prospective randomized open blinded end-point (PROBE) study to see if oral uremic toxin absorbent + probiotics to modulate systemic inflammation and retard the progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with diabetes.

Dietary Supplement: probiotics

oral uremic toxin absorbent +/- probiotics

EXPERIMENTAL

Dietary Supplement: Oral Uremic Toxin Absorbent/Probiotics This 12-month trial will enroll 120 subjects with Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD), consisting of 60 subjects in CKD Stage 3A, 60 in Stage 3B, 60 in Stage 4, and 60 in Stage 5/dialysis. Each group will be randomized into six subgroups (A-F): Group A: Administered 2.3g of ABC three times daily during the latter 6 months. Group B: Administered 2g of probiotics twice daily during the latter 6 months. Group C: Administered a combination of oral uremic toxin absorbent/probiotics during the latter 6 months. Clinical evaluations and examinations will be performed at baseline and every 3 months over the 12-month duration, including gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins (e.g., CCL4), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and uremic toxins.

Dietary Supplement: oral uremic toxin absorbent + probiotics

Interventions

oral uremic toxin absorbentDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

In this 12-month trial, 300 DKD participants will be enrolled (60 with CKD stage 3A, 60 with stage 3B, 60 with stage 4, and 60 with stage 5 or on dialysis). Within each stage, participants will be randomized into three subgroups (A-C). Group A will receive ABC 2.3 g three times daily together with standard care during the last 6 months. Group B will receive probiotics 2 g twice daily during the last 6 months. Group C will receive both interventions during the last 6 months. Clinical assessments and examinations- including gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins (e.g., CCL4), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and uremic toxins- will be conducted at baseline and every 3 months for 12 months.

oral uremic toxin absorbent
probioticsDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

In this 12-month trial, 300 DKD participants will be enrolled (60 with CKD stage 3A, 60 with stage 3B, 60 with stage 4, and 60 with stage 5 or on dialysis). Within each stage, participants will be randomized into three subgroups (A-C). Group A will receive ABC 2.3 g three times daily together with standard care during the last 6 months. Group B will receive probiotics 2 g twice daily during the last 6 months. Group C will receive both interventions during the last 6 months. Clinical assessments and examinations- including gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins (e.g., CCL4), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and uremic toxins- will be conducted at baseline and every 3 months for 12 months.

probiotics

In this 12-month trial, 300 DKD participants will be enrolled (60 with CKD stage 3A, 60 with stage 3B, 60 with stage 4, and 60 with stage 5 or on dialysis). Within each stage, participants will be randomized into three subgroups (A-C). Group A will receive ABC 2.3 g three times daily together with standard care during the last 6 months. Group B will receive probiotics 2 g twice daily during the last 6 months. Group C will receive both interventions during the last 6 months. Clinical assessments and examinations- including gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins (e.g., CCL4), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and uremic toxins- will be conducted at baseline and every 3 months for 12 months.

oral uremic toxin absorbent +/- probiotics

Eligibility Criteria

Age20 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age \> 20 years old but not pregnant on the day of screening.
  • DKD patients with stable renal function (Cre elevation \< 0.3 mg/dL for at least 30 days) and PCS level (fluctuation \< 10% for at least 30 days)
  • Group 1: 120 DKD patients with 45\<eGFR\<60 ml/min/1.73m2 in stable status. Group 2: 120 DKD patients with 30\<eGFR\<45 ml/min/1.73m2 in stable status. Group 3: 60 DKD patients with 15\<eGFR\<30 ml/min/1.73m2 in stable status Group 4: 60 DKD patients with eGFR\<15 ml/min/1.73m2 in stable status

You may not qualify if:

  • Baseline eGFR \> 90 ml/min/1.73m2 according to MDRD equation.
  • Patients in severe malnutrition status, albumin less than 2.0 g/dL.
  • Patients in severe anemia or active gastrointestinal bleeding with hemoglobulin \< 8 g/dL.
  • Active peptic ulcer, esophageal varices, ileus or under fasting status
  • Previous gastrointestinal operation.
  • Chronic constipation, as defined with less than 3 bowel movements per week, straining, hard stools.
  • Incomplete evacuation and inability to pass stool. If usage of oral laxatives can achieve bowel movement, this patient will not be excluded.
  • Patients with major hemorrhage, as defined with acute hemorrhage and requirement of blood transfusion during index admission.
  • Patients with a biopsy proved or clinically diagnosed advanced liver cirrhosis, Child classification B or C.
  • Solid organ or hematological transplantation recipients.
  • Evidence of obstructive kidney injury or polycystic kidney disease.
  • Presence or history of malignant neoplasms within the past 5 years prior to the day of screening.
  • Patients with Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
  • Antibiotics or probiotics treatment within the last 3 months before enrollment and during follow-up period.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

National Taiwan University Hospital.

Taipei, Taiwan, 10002, Taiwan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Probiotics

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dietary SupplementsFoodDiet, Food, and NutritionPhysiological PhenomenaFood and Beverages

Central Study Contacts

chauchung wu, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
Those who analyze data and those who examine samples are masking Description
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 15, 2025

First Posted

January 12, 2026

Study Start

December 31, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 31, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2029

Last Updated

January 15, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations