What's Hopping? Cricket Protein and Human Gut Microbiota
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 65 |
| Updated: | 4/6/2019 |
| Start Date: | February 1, 2017 |
| End Date: | May 10, 2017 |
What's Hopping? Edible Cricket (Gryllodes Sigillatus) Consumption and Gut Microbiota in Healthy Adults, a Double-blind, Randomized Crossover Trial
Edible insects are often considered a nutritious, protein-rich, environmentally sustainable
alternative to traditional meat. They represent a new food for North American consumers.
While the nutrient composition of several insects is characterized, all potential health
impacts have not been evaluated. Crickets contain chitin and other fibers that may influence
gut health. In this study, we evaluated the effects of consuming 25 grams/day whole cricket
powder on gut microbiota composition, while assessing safety and tolerability. Twenty healthy
adults participated in this six-week, double-blind, crossover dietary intervention.
Participants were randomized into two treatment arms and consumed either cricket-containing
or control breakfast foods for 14 days, followed by a 14-day washout period and assignment to
the opposite arm. Blood and stool samples were collected at baseline and after each treatment
period to assess liver function and microbiota changes. Results demonstrate that cricket
consumption is tolerable and non-toxic at the treatment dose. Cricket powder supported growth
of the probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium animalis, which increased more than 5.7-fold.
Cricket consumption was also associated with reduced plasma TNF-a. These data suggest that
eating crickets may improve gut health and reduce systemic inflammation; however, more
research is needed to understand these effects and underlying mechanisms.
alternative to traditional meat. They represent a new food for North American consumers.
While the nutrient composition of several insects is characterized, all potential health
impacts have not been evaluated. Crickets contain chitin and other fibers that may influence
gut health. In this study, we evaluated the effects of consuming 25 grams/day whole cricket
powder on gut microbiota composition, while assessing safety and tolerability. Twenty healthy
adults participated in this six-week, double-blind, crossover dietary intervention.
Participants were randomized into two treatment arms and consumed either cricket-containing
or control breakfast foods for 14 days, followed by a 14-day washout period and assignment to
the opposite arm. Blood and stool samples were collected at baseline and after each treatment
period to assess liver function and microbiota changes. Results demonstrate that cricket
consumption is tolerable and non-toxic at the treatment dose. Cricket powder supported growth
of the probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium animalis, which increased more than 5.7-fold.
Cricket consumption was also associated with reduced plasma TNF-a. These data suggest that
eating crickets may improve gut health and reduce systemic inflammation; however, more
research is needed to understand these effects and underlying mechanisms.
Although no research on the impact of edible insect protein powder on the human microbiome,
there is plenty of evidence that edible insects offer a good source nutrition. Extensive
research demonstrates that edible insects provide a source of high-quality bioavailable
animal protein as many edible insects contain all essential amino acids for human nutrition
and have high crude protein levels containing between 40 and 75% protein by dry weight. House
crickets, for example, have more protein by dry weight than ground beef or broiled cod fish.
Insects are also rich in healthy fatty acids, B vitamins (riboflavin, pantothenic acid,
biotin, and folate, as well as important minerals such as iron and zinc. In addition to their
nutrient content, and as arthropods, edible insects are also rich in dietary fiber, including
chitin, which is found in the exoskeleton.
Chitin is a modified polysaccharide containing nitrogen; it is considered an insoluble fiber
with potential prebiotic properties that could benefit human health by selectively promoting
the growth of beneficial bacterial species in the intestines. Previous studies on the impact
of chitin-glucan derived from Aspergillus niger mycelium on oxidized low-density lipoprotein
(OxLDL) in adults, a risk factor for atherosclerosis, found that chitin-glucan intakes of
4.5g/day significantly reduced OxLDL in 6 weeks. Additionally, a study of
chito-oligosaccharides found that chitosan derivatives from shrimp cells with a great content
of acetylated residues did not cause a putatively prebiotic effect in human gut
microbiota—although this study was conducted on human fecal microbiota in batch cultures (not
in humans). To date, no comprehensive study has evaluated the impact of whole insect
consumption on the microbiota in humans, which would include consumption of insect-derived
dietary fibers and chitins with potential health benefits. An assessment of the tolerability
of whole insect consumption is also needed, despite the fact that around 2 billion people
consume insects on a regular basis in 130 countries or more.
The "What's Hopping? Cricket Protein and Human Gut Microbiota" study will determine the
impact of a commercially available insect flour, containing high levels of protein and
dietary fiber on human gut bacterial composition and functional capacity. A secondary aim is
to establish whether insect powder acts as a prebiotic. In this study, a 100% insect-based
flour/powder derived from edible crickets (Acheta domesticus) will be assessed. The objective
of this study is to determine if Insect powder consumption changes gut bacteria and reduces
inflammation in your intestinal tract compared to a placebo. To this end, we intend to enroll
20 healthy individuals to participate in a crossover diet intervention study. Participants
will consume meals made with cricket powder and placebo meals daily for 2 weeks per treatment
arm with a 2-week washout period. Both study participants and study personnel (clinical
coordinators, PI's, statisticians) will be blinded to the intervention group. Anthropometric
measures, as well as stool and blood samples, will be collected at each of 3 clinic visits
(baseline, and the end of each intervention period). Primary outcome measures will include
gut microbiota and microbial metabolism (determined by measuring fecal short chain fatty
acids), local and systemic inflammatory markers, comprehensive metabolic panels and GI health
questionnaires to assess safety and tolerability of the intervention foods.
there is plenty of evidence that edible insects offer a good source nutrition. Extensive
research demonstrates that edible insects provide a source of high-quality bioavailable
animal protein as many edible insects contain all essential amino acids for human nutrition
and have high crude protein levels containing between 40 and 75% protein by dry weight. House
crickets, for example, have more protein by dry weight than ground beef or broiled cod fish.
Insects are also rich in healthy fatty acids, B vitamins (riboflavin, pantothenic acid,
biotin, and folate, as well as important minerals such as iron and zinc. In addition to their
nutrient content, and as arthropods, edible insects are also rich in dietary fiber, including
chitin, which is found in the exoskeleton.
Chitin is a modified polysaccharide containing nitrogen; it is considered an insoluble fiber
with potential prebiotic properties that could benefit human health by selectively promoting
the growth of beneficial bacterial species in the intestines. Previous studies on the impact
of chitin-glucan derived from Aspergillus niger mycelium on oxidized low-density lipoprotein
(OxLDL) in adults, a risk factor for atherosclerosis, found that chitin-glucan intakes of
4.5g/day significantly reduced OxLDL in 6 weeks. Additionally, a study of
chito-oligosaccharides found that chitosan derivatives from shrimp cells with a great content
of acetylated residues did not cause a putatively prebiotic effect in human gut
microbiota—although this study was conducted on human fecal microbiota in batch cultures (not
in humans). To date, no comprehensive study has evaluated the impact of whole insect
consumption on the microbiota in humans, which would include consumption of insect-derived
dietary fibers and chitins with potential health benefits. An assessment of the tolerability
of whole insect consumption is also needed, despite the fact that around 2 billion people
consume insects on a regular basis in 130 countries or more.
The "What's Hopping? Cricket Protein and Human Gut Microbiota" study will determine the
impact of a commercially available insect flour, containing high levels of protein and
dietary fiber on human gut bacterial composition and functional capacity. A secondary aim is
to establish whether insect powder acts as a prebiotic. In this study, a 100% insect-based
flour/powder derived from edible crickets (Acheta domesticus) will be assessed. The objective
of this study is to determine if Insect powder consumption changes gut bacteria and reduces
inflammation in your intestinal tract compared to a placebo. To this end, we intend to enroll
20 healthy individuals to participate in a crossover diet intervention study. Participants
will consume meals made with cricket powder and placebo meals daily for 2 weeks per treatment
arm with a 2-week washout period. Both study participants and study personnel (clinical
coordinators, PI's, statisticians) will be blinded to the intervention group. Anthropometric
measures, as well as stool and blood samples, will be collected at each of 3 clinic visits
(baseline, and the end of each intervention period). Primary outcome measures will include
gut microbiota and microbial metabolism (determined by measuring fecal short chain fatty
acids), local and systemic inflammatory markers, comprehensive metabolic panels and GI health
questionnaires to assess safety and tolerability of the intervention foods.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Apparently healthy males and non-pregnant or lactating healthy females of any race or
ethnicity and between the ages of 18-65 with a BMI between 18.5-29.9.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Individuals younger than 18 years of age or older than 65 years, and those outside of
the BMI range of 18.5-29.9 will be excluded. Individuals will also be excluded if they
have taken antibiotics or commercial probiotic/prebiotic supplements within two months
of the start of the study treatment. Subjects who self-report food allergies will be
excluded from the study because some proteins in insect foods are similar to those
found in shellfish that could trigger an allergic reaction and tree nut or dairy
products may be used in the breakfast foods.
Additionally, current medications and dietary supplements will be assessed on a case by
case basis and will result in exclusion if there is a possibility that the drugs or
supplements used would influence the endpoints of the study. This would include statins,
metformin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
(MAOI), and botanical supplements that target the gastrointestinal tract or gut microbiota.
Individuals with current diagnosis of cancer, liver or kidney disease, gastrointestinal
diseases, and metabolic disorders will also be excluded. Pregnant and breastfeeding women
will be excluded from the study as well. Additionally, exclusion will be determined if the
individual feels they are unable to adhere to the study requirements which include
consuming 1 prepared breakfast per day (treatment or placebo) for a total of 28 days
(treatment periods), making 3 clinic visits, and providing 3 blood and stool samples.
We found this trial at
1
site
Click here to add this to my saved trials
