Inulin Supplementation for Reducing Inflammation and Knee Pain in Older Adults With Osteoarthritis

NCT ID: NCT07189585

Last Updated: 2025-09-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 84 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-04-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-07-31

Brief Summary

This study will test whether inulin, a type of dietary fiber, can reduce inflammation in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Inflammation in the body may contribute to both joint pain and the progression of osteoarthritis. Inulin is a prebiotic fiber that may improve gut health and reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a marker of bacterial products in the blood that is linked to inflammation.

In this trial, participants with knee osteoarthritis will be randomly assigned to receive either inulin or a placebo (maltodextrin) for 8 weeks. The study will measure changes in blood LPS levels, knee pain, and other markers of inflammation. The goal is to determine whether inulin supplementation can improve pain and reduce inflammation in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Detailed Description

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of pain and disability among older adults. Low-grade systemic inflammation has been implicated in OA pathogenesis, and bacterial products such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocated from the gut microbiome may contribute to joint inflammation. Inulin-type fructans are non-digestible carbohydrates classified as prebiotic fibers. By modulating the gut microbiome, inulin has been shown to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and to increase short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, which may help reduce systemic LPS levels and inflammation.

This is a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of participants aged 40 years or older with radiographically confirmed knee OA and significant knee pain. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive 10 g/day inulin, 15 g/day inulin, or placebo (maltodextrin) for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is change in serum LPS from baseline to 8 weeks in the combined inulin groups compared to placebo.

The study hypothesis is that inulin supplementation will reduce circulating LPS and improve knee pain outcomes, supporting the role of gut microbiome modulation in the management of OA-related inflammation.

Conditions

Knee Osteoarthritis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

Placebo (Maltodextrin)

Participants receive maltodextrin powder in identical sachets. Dose is escalated over 2 weeks to match the dosing schedule of the inulin arms (5 g daily for 3 days, 10 g daily for 4 days, then 15 g daily). Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal, for 8 weeks.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Maltodextrin (Placebo)

Intervention Type: DRUG

Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate powder widely used as a food additive. For this study, maltodextrin is used as the placebo comparator. It is packaged into single-dose sachets identical in appearance and taste to inulin sachets. Participants receive escalating doses (5 g/day for 3 days, 10 g/day for 4 days, then 15 g/day) for a total of 8 weeks. Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal.

Inulin 10 g/day

Participants receive inulin powder in identical sachets. Dose is escalated to 10 g daily (5 g daily for 3 days, then 10 g daily for 4 days). After Week 2, participants continue with one 15 g sachet containing a 2:1 blend of inulin and maltodextrin, providing a daily dose of 10 g inulin. Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal, for 8 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

inulin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Inulin is a fermentable prebiotic fiber derived from chicory root. For this study, inulin is packaged into single-dose sachets containing 5 g, 10 g, or 15 g of powder. Participants in the 10 g arm escalate from 5 g/day for 3 days to 10 g/day, then continue with sachets containing a 2:1 blend of inulin and maltodextrin to provide a daily 10 g inulin dose. Participants in the 15 g arm escalate from 5 g/day for 3 days, 10 g/day for 4 days, then 15 g/day for the remaining 8 weeks. Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal.

Inulin 15 g/day

Participants receive inulin powder in identical sachets. Dose is escalated to 15 g daily (5 g daily for 3 days, 10 g daily for 4 days, then 15 g daily). Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal, for 8 weeks.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

inulin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Inulin is a fermentable prebiotic fiber derived from chicory root. For this study, inulin is packaged into single-dose sachets containing 5 g, 10 g, or 15 g of powder. Participants in the 10 g arm escalate from 5 g/day for 3 days to 10 g/day, then continue with sachets containing a 2:1 blend of inulin and maltodextrin to provide a daily 10 g inulin dose. Participants in the 15 g arm escalate from 5 g/day for 3 days, 10 g/day for 4 days, then 15 g/day for the remaining 8 weeks. Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal.

Interventions

inulin

Inulin is a fermentable prebiotic fiber derived from chicory root. For this study, inulin is packaged into single-dose sachets containing 5 g, 10 g, or 15 g of powder. Participants in the 10 g arm escalate from 5 g/day for 3 days to 10 g/day, then continue with sachets containing a 2:1 blend of inulin and maltodextrin to provide a daily 10 g inulin dose. Participants in the 15 g arm escalate from 5 g/day for 3 days, 10 g/day for 4 days, then 15 g/day for the remaining 8 weeks. Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Maltodextrin (Placebo)

Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate powder widely used as a food additive. For this study, maltodextrin is used as the placebo comparator. It is packaged into single-dose sachets identical in appearance and taste to inulin sachets. Participants receive escalating doses (5 g/day for 3 days, 10 g/day for 4 days, then 15 g/day) for a total of 8 weeks. Sachets are mixed with food or beverage and taken once daily with the largest meal.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Orafti® Inulin; BENEO-Orafti; Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study (8 weeks).
• Male or female, aged ≥ 40 years.
• Established patient in the VA Connecticut Healthcare System
• At least one knee with pain severity in the past week ≥ 4/10 on numerical rating scale (NRS)
• Self-reported knee pain on most days of the prior month.
• Diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2-4 on radiographic imaging within the past 2 years).
• Ability to take oral powder supplements and willingness to adhere to the inulin/placebo daily regimen.
• Agreement to adhere to lifestyle considerations (see Section 5.3) throughout study duration, including maintenance of current diet, physical activity, and avoidance of new dietary supplements or complementary therapies.
• English-speaking and able to provide informed consent.
• For females of reproductive potential: use of highly effective contraception for at least 1 month prior to screening and agreement to continue such method during study participation.

Exclusion Criteria

• Current diagnosis of pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) or diabetes mellitus (Type 1 or Type 2).
• Use of antibiotics within the past 6 months.
• Current use of medications known to significantly impact the gut microbiome (e.g., proton pump inhibitors, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, GLP-1 receptor agonists).
• Use of anti-inflammatory dietary supplements (e.g., turmeric, omega-3 fatty acids) within the past 30 days.
• Participation in another interventional study or use of an investigational drug within the past 30 days.
• Current use of complementary or integrative therapies for knee OA including tai chi, acupuncture or yoga.
• Known allergy or intolerance to components of the study intervention, including inulin or maltodextrin.
• The presence of significant gastrointestinal disease that may interfere with the intervention or outcomes, such as inflammatory bowel disease or active peptic ulcer disease.
• Any medical, psychological, or behavioral condition that, in the opinion of the investigators, would place the participant at undue risk, interfere with study participation or adherence, or compromise data integrity.
• Current diagnosis of alcohol use disorder
• Pregnancy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

FED

Sponsor Role: collaborator

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Yale University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Evelyn Hsieh Donroe

Associate Professor of Medicine

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Evelyn Hsieh, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Yale University

Locations

VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven Campus

West Haven, Connecticut, United States

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Evelyn Hsieh, MD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

evelyn.hsieh@yale.edu

(203) 785-7092

Facility Contacts

Evelyn Hsieh, MD, PhD

Role: primary

evelyn.hsieh@yale.edu

(203) 785-7092

Other Identifiers

174626

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

1R61AT013472-01

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2000040523

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id