The Impact of a Mediterranean Diet on the Gut Microbiome in Healthy Human Subjects: A Pilot Study

Background and Aims: Despite the reported salutary benefits of a Mediterranean diet (MD) on a wide variety of health conditions, the specific microbial changes associated with an MD within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are not well studied. Specifically, although population and survey-based studies have shown microbial changes, there are no published data on how an MD alters the gut flora in a controlled setting. Methods: We recruited 10 healthy subjects, each of whom gave a stool sample at baseline and then was provided with prepared meals of a “typical” American diet; after 2 weeks, a second stool sample was collected. All subjects were then provided with prepared meals based on the MD for another 2 weeks, followed by a final stool sample collection. Stool samples were batch analyzed with DNA extraction, and sequencing libraries were generated. Measures of bacterial diversity, species richness, and enterotypes were performed. Results: All ten subjects tolerated the diets well. Bacterial diversity increased with an MD, as measured by alpha diversity via the Simpson index. Furthermore, there were significant differences in 5 bacterial genera between the 2 diets. Conclusion: This small pilot study of controlled diets demonstrates that the MD can rapidly alter the gut microbiome in healthy subjects at the level of global microbial diversity and individual genera. These data confirm the findings of previous observational studies and establish the feasibility of conducting longer term studies on the impact of the MD on the flora of the GI tract and its relationship to digestive diseases.

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Pilot Study on the Impact of the Mediterranean Diet and Intermittent Fasting

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04185948 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Intermittent Fasting ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Impact

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Genetic polymorphisms mediating behavioural and immune response to pathogens may moderate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study

10.1101/2020.06.03.20120998 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ravi Philip Rajkumar

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Genetic Variants ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Therapeutic Strategies ◽

Published Data ◽

Entire World ◽

S Allele ◽

The Impact

AbstractBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has affected the entire world, but there are wide variations in prevalence and mortality across nations. Genetic variants which influence behavioural or immune responses to pathogens, selected for by pathogen pressure, may influence this variability. Two relevant polymorphisms in this context are the s allele of the serotonin transporter promoter (5-HTTLPR) and the G allele of the interleukin-6 gene (IL-6 rs1800795).MethodsThe frequencies of the 5-HTTLPR s allele and IL-6 rs1800795 G allele were obtained from published data. The correlations between these allele frequencies and the prevalence and mortality rates of COVID-19 were examined across 44 nations.ResultsThe IL-6 rs1800795 G allele was negatively correlated with COVID-19 prevalence (ρ = −0.466, p < 0.01) and mortality (ρ = −0.591, p<0.001) across nations. The 5-HTTLPR s allele was negatively correlated with COVID-19 mortality rates (ρ = −0.437, p = 0.023).ConclusionsThese results suggest that a significant relationship exists between genetic variants that influence behavioural and immune responses to pathogens and indices of the impact of COVID-19 across nations. Further investigation of these variants and their correlates may permit the development of better preventive or therapeutic strategies in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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From the Table to the Tumor: The Role of Mediterranean and Western Dietary Patterns in Shifting Microbial-Mediated Signaling to Impact Breast Cancer Risk

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu11112565 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 2565 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tiffany M. Newman ◽

Mara Z. Vitolins ◽

Katherine L. Cook

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Cancer Risk ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Western Diet ◽

Diet Pattern ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Impact

Diet is a modifiable component of lifestyle that could influence breast cancer development. The Mediterranean dietary pattern is considered one of the healthiest of all dietary patterns. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet protects against diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Reported consumption of a Mediterranean diet pattern was associated with lower breast cancer risk for women with all subtypes of breast cancer, and a Western diet pattern was associated with greater risk. In this review, we contrast the available epidemiological breast cancer data, comparing the impact of consuming a Mediterranean diet to the Western diet. Furthermore, we will review the preclinical data highlighting the anticancer molecular mechanism of Mediterranean diet consumption in both cancer prevention and therapeutic outcomes. Diet composition is a major constituent shaping the gut microbiome. Distinct patterns of gut microbiota composition are associated with the habitual consumption of animal fats, high-fiber diets, and vegetable-based diets. We will review the impact of Mediterranean diet on the gut microbiome and inflammation. Outside of the gut, we recently demonstrated that Mediterranean diet consumption led to distinct microbiota shifts in the mammary gland tissue, suggesting possible anticancer effects by diet on breast-specific microbiome. Taken together, these data support the anti-breast-cancer impact of Mediterranean diet consumption.

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There’s Something Happening Here: The Positive Impact of Collaborative Songwriting on Veterans Suffering from PTSD

Music and Medicine ◽

10.47513/mmd.v12i1.695 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 49

Author(s):

Mary Judd

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Small Pilot Study ◽

Writing Workshops ◽

Non Profit ◽

Post Traumatic Growth ◽

Skilled Professional ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

The Impact ◽

Creative Writing Workshops

SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) is a non profit, coaching-based program that uses collaborative songwriting to build creativity, connections and strengths in order to help improve people’s lives. The results have been positively life changing, even lifesaving, for many. The focus of a recent small pilot study by Harvard Mass General researchers on the impact of SW:S’s collaborative songwriting intervention (CSI) on veterans found the CSI sessions to reduce PTSD (-33%) and Depressive symptoms (-25%), potentially sparking further positive change and movement forward. In full SW:S weekend retreats, 8-12 veterans are paired with highly skilled professional songwriters to turn their military experiences into songs. When not writing songs, the participants attend creative writing workshops, meditation or yoga sessions and other activities to foster further connections and post traumatic growth. More than 400 veterans and family members have attended SW:S events; more than 400 songs have been written, countless lives changed. Feedback from retreat participants reveals post-retreat increases in feelings of hope and optimism (77%), increased creative pursuits (83%), connections with others (78%) and a 100% endorsement for other veterans to attend. Efforts are under wayto expand the study and eventually broaden it to include additional components of the positive psychology, coaching-based program.

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Human gut microbiome composition and tryptophan metabolites were changed differently by fast food and Mediterranean diet in 4 days: a pilot study

Nutrition Research ◽

10.1016/j.nutres.2020.03.005 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 77 ◽

pp. 62-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chenghao Zhu ◽

Lisa Sawrey-Kubicek ◽

Elizabeth Beals ◽

Chris H. Rhodes ◽

Hannah Eve Houts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Fast Food ◽

Human Gut ◽

Microbiome Composition ◽

Human Gut Microbiome ◽

Tryptophan Metabolites

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The impact of case formulation focussed consultation on criminal justice staff and their attitudes to work with personality disorder

Mental Health Review Journal ◽

10.1108/mhrj-12-2013-0039 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 124-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jo Ramsden ◽

Mark Lowton ◽

Emma Joyes

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Personality Disorder ◽

Probation Officers ◽

Case Formulation ◽

Small Pilot Study ◽

Consultation Process ◽

Content Type ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes ◽

Personality Disordered ◽

The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to examine the impact of a highly structured, formulation focused consultation process on knowledge and attitudes towards personality disorder and on perceived practice with personality disordered offenders. Consultation was delivered by the Yorkshire/Humber regional Pathway Development Service (PDS). This pilot study sought to inform the development of this service and the support offered to probation Trusts across Yorkshire/Humber to implement the national Personality Disorder Offender Pathway. Design/methodology/approach – Consultation was offered to a number of offender managers working in the Yorkshire/Humber region. The impact of the consultation on their knowledge and understanding of personality disorder in general was examined as was their attitudes to working with this population and their perceived confidence and competence in delivering supervision to each individual. Findings – The findings from this small pilot study would suggest that the structured format used by the Yorkshire PDS was helpful in enhancing the probation officers’ knowledge and understanding of personality disorder as well as their perceived confidence in and attitudes towards working with individuals with a personality disorder. Originality/value – The study indicates that the structured format used by the PDS is of value and may be applied to the support offered to probation Trusts across Yorkshire/Humber as they implement the community specification of the national Personality Disorder Offender Pathway.

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Effect of radiotherapy on the gut microbiome in pediatric cancer patients: a pilot study

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.7683 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. e7683 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Nourhan Sahly ◽

Ahmed Moustafa ◽

Mohamed Zaghloul ◽

Tamer Z. Salem

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Sample Size ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Pediatric Cancer ◽

Gut Microbiome ◽

Small Sample ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Pediatric Cancer Patients ◽

The Impact

The incidence of pediatric cancer is lower than that of adult cancer worldwide. However, the former has detrimental side effects on the health of individuals, even after the cancer is cured, due to the impact of treatment on development. Recently, correlations have been made between the gut microbiome and cancer in several studies but only on adult participants. There is always a complication of dealing with pediatric cancer treatment protocols because they usually include a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and intensive prophylactic antibiotics. In the current study, a pilot study was conducted to analyze ten fecal samples from three pediatric cancer patients, suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma near their pelvic region, and two healthy individuals. A correlation between microbial composition and response to treatment was reported, in which the responders had generally a lower microbial diversity compared to non-responders. In addition, nucleotide changes and deletions in the tested 16S rRNA sequences post radiotherapy were detected. Despite the small sample size used in the experiments due to the uncommon rhabdomyosarcoma in children, the results can help in understanding the influence of radiotherapy on the gut microbiome in pediatric cancer patients. More work with larger sample size and different cancer types need to be conducted to understand the influence of radiotherapy on gut microbiome to mitigate the deleterious impact of radiation on treated children.

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A pilot study of the development and implementation of a ‘best practice’ patient information booklet for patients with chronic venous insufficiency

Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease ◽

10.1258/phleb.2010.010082 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 26 (8) ◽

pp. 338-343 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

A Bobridge ◽

S Sandison ◽

J Paterson ◽

P Puckridge ◽

M Esplin

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Chronic Venous Insufficiency ◽

Best Practice ◽

Venous Insufficiency ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Small Pilot Study ◽

Information Booklet ◽

Ceap Classification ◽

The Individual ◽

The Impact

Objective Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a chronic condition that has a significant impact on the individual. For the effective, long-term management of CVI, it is important that patients are educated on the patho-physiology of the condition and strategies that can minimize the related complications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and pilot a ‘best practice’ information booklet for CVI and to assess the impact of this booklet on CVI-related knowledge and quality of life (QOL). Method A ‘best practice’ CVI booklet was developed based on the best available evidence from the literature. Participants with a formal diagnosis of CVI with a clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological elements (CEAP) classification of 3–6 were recruited from vascular outpatient clinics at a tertiary hospital. Each participant was given and explained the CVI booklet and asked to undertake the recommended activities at home over the next six-month period. Measurements were taken at baseline, one month and six months postbooklet implementation via the previously validated Health Education Impact and the CVI Questionnaires. Results Twenty-six participants, aged 38–90 years (mean 71.8 ± 12.9 years) initially participated in the study, with 20 participants remaining at the six-month time point (77% completion rate). At the end of one month, there had been a significant improvement in doing at least one activity to improve CVI ( P = 0.010), monitoring CVI ( P = 0.045), having effective ways to prevent CVI symptoms ( P = 0.045), knowing CVI triggers ( P = 0.005), ability to travel by car and bus ( P = 0.05), undertaking social activities ( P = 0.030) and feeling less embarrassed about the legs ( P = 0.025). At trial end (6 months), there was a significant improvement in doing at least one activity to improve CVI ( P = 0.003), knowing CVI triggers ( P = 0.016), having effective ways of preventing CVI symptoms ( P = 0.008), worrying about the CVI ( P = 0.030), feeling hopeless because of CVI problems ( P = 0.007), leg and ankle pain ( P = 0.038), ability to do domestic duties ( P = 0.017), feeling nervous and tense ( P = 0.026), and feeling less embarrassed about the legs ( P = 0.008). Although other domains improved in the study, none of these improvements were statistically significant. Conclusion Although a small pilot study, the outcomes demonstrate that the implementation of a ‘best practice’ CVI information booklet into a patients management routine can improve both CVI-related knowledge and QOL.

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A Pilot Study on the Metabolic Impact of Mediterranean Diet in Type 2 Diabetes: Is Gut Microbiota the Key?

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041228 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1228

Author(s):

Shámila Ismael ◽

Marta P. Silvestre ◽

Miguel Vasques ◽

João R. Araújo ◽

Juliana Morais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Dietary Intervention ◽

Model Assessment ◽

Bacterial Richness ◽

Diabetes Outcome ◽

The Impact

The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been recommended for type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment. The impact of diet in shaping the gut microbiota is well known, particularly for MD. However, the link between MD and diabetes outcome improvement is not completely clear. This study aims to evaluate the role of microbiota modulation by a nonpharmacological intervention in patients with T2D. In this 12-week single-arm pilot study, nine participants received individual nutritional counseling sessions promoting MD. Gut microbiota, biochemical parameters, body composition, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Adherence to MD [assessed by Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score] increased after the intervention. Bacterial richness increased after 4 weeks of intervention and was negatively correlated with fasting glucose levels and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio also increased after 4 weeks. In contrast, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and HOMA-IR were only decreased at the end of study. Alkaline phosphatase activity was assessed in fecal samples and was negatively correlated with HbA1c and positively correlated with bacterial diversity. The results of this study reinforce that MD adherence results in a better glycemic control in subjects with T2D. Changes in gut bacterial richness caused by MD adherence may be relevant in mediating the metabolic impact of this dietary intervention.

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