Kefir, Gut Microbiota, and Athletic Performance in Soccer Players
NCT ID: NCT06753422
Last Updated: 2024-12-31
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
COMPLETED
NA
21 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-05-01
2024-12-01
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
The study will be the first to evaluate whether kefir intake can increase the microbial diversity, increase the VO2max and improve the body composition of professional athletes. The anticipated outcomes of this study are enhanced gut microbial diversity, enhanced VO2max and finishing speed, and positive alteration in the body composition parameters.
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
This trial was carried out for a period of four weeks and the subjects were divided into two parallel groups; the kefir group in which the participants consume 200ml of kefir per day and the control group in which the participants continued with their normal diet without kefir supplementation. The subjects were assigned to either of the two groups at the beginning of the study. Since the study involved a dietary intervention, the trial was conducted without blinding the subject and the researcher. Measurements were made at the beginning and at the end of the intervention in order to evaluate the outcomes.
The main goals of the study were to observe the changes in the diversity and the composition of the gut microbiome with the help of 16S rRNA sequencing and to determine the changes in the athletic performance indices including VO2max and finishing speed which was measured by 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test. Other objectives were to establish the effects of kefir on other body composition measures such as body fat percentage, fat free mass and total body weight , to examine the patterns of dietary intakes and their relationships with the microbiota and performance measures and to examine the changes in certain gut microorganisms including Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii which are known to have positive effects on human health and performance.
The alpha diversity of the gut microbiome was measured with the Shannon and Chao1 indices and the beta diversity was calculated with the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. The taxonomic analysis was done at the phylum, genus and species level in order to identify the changes in the microbial community due to consumption of kefir. The participants' athletic performance was evaluated with IFT Test to explore the changes in VO2max and finishing speed. Changes in the body composition were assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) and skinfold callipers and the dietary intake data were collected through three-day food records, one off day and two training days to examine the macronutrients and micronutrients intake and their relationship with the microbiota and performance.
This trial seeks to fill an important research gap in the current literature on functional foods in sports nutrition with focus on professional female athletes. In this way, the current study seeks to link dietary interventions with the gut microbiota as well as performance parameters in order to provide empirical support for how kefir can improve the gut health and performance of athletes and to facilitate the development of personalised nutrition for athletes.
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Keywords
Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
BASIC_SCIENCE
NONE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
Kefir Consumption Group
Participants in this group will consume 200 ml of kefir daily for 4 weeks. Their diet will remain ad libitum, with no additional dietary restrictions or standardization applied during the intervention period.
The primary intervention in our study is the daily consumption of kefir (200 ml/day). No additional drug or medical device was used during the intervention or data collection process. The study focused solely on kefir consumption and its effects on athletic performance and gut microbiota.
Kefir
200 ml/day kefir
The primary intervention in our study is the daily consumption of kefir (200 ml/day). No additional drug or medical device was used during the intervention or data collection process. The study focused solely on kefir consumption and its effects on athletic performance and gut microbiota.
Control Group
Participants in this group will not receive any specific intervention. They will continue their usual diet ad libitum, with no dietary restrictions or standardization applied during the study period.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Kefir
200 ml/day kefir
The primary intervention in our study is the daily consumption of kefir (200 ml/day). No additional drug or medical device was used during the intervention or data collection process. The study focused solely on kefir consumption and its effects on athletic performance and gut microbiota.
Other Intervention Names
Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
* Aged between 18 and 35 years
* Regular participation in a structured training program
* No allergy or intolerance to kefir or dairy products
* Willingness to voluntarily participate in the study
* Signed informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria
* Presence of chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure)
* Use of antibiotics or probiotic supplements within the last 3 months
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Inability to comply with the study protocol
18 Years
FEMALE
Yes
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
Acibadem University
OTHER
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Duygu Sağlam, Associate Professor
Role: STUDY_CHAIR
Acibadem University
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
Fatih Vatan Sports Club
Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
TDK-2023-91
Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT
Identifier Source: secondary_id
2024-KefirStudy
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id