Investigating the Impact of the Seaweed Derived Food Additive, Carrageenan, on the Human Gut Microbiome

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Carrageenan is a frequently used food additive within the food industry. It acts as a gelling agent and thickener and is often used as a vegan alternative to gelatine. You will often see it on food labels as E407 or E407a. As a type of carbohydrate resistant to human digestion, the question has been posed as to whether carrageenan can be utilised by the gut microbiota (the community of microorganisms residing in the human gut). As the confectionary market remains a big part of daily life for many, having sweets that have a positive impact on the gut microbiota could be a step forward in promoting healthier snack choices. We have conducted lab-based experiments which have shown that carrageenan can be used by a number of gut microbial species, both beneficial and undesirable. We ascertained that consumption of carrageenan in low amounts in conjunction with prebiotics (dietary substrates selectively utilised by beneficial gut microorganisms which have a health benefit) can mitigate the growth of undesirable microbes, and overall have an enhanced beneficial effect on the microbial composition by promoting the growth on beneficial gut bacteria. This study aims to assess if these positive microbial changes can also be observed in humans, by conducting a human trial. We will adopt a randomised, double-blind parallel study design in which participants are either given 1) a carrageenan (0.167g) containing confectionary item 2) a carrageenan and inulin (5g) containing confectionary item or 3) a confectionary item containing an alternative gelling agent (control) to consume daily for 4 weeks. The dosage of carrageenan is comparable to what is found in commercially available sweets. The dosage of inulin is comparable to what previous studies found had a positive impact on the gut microbiome. Participants will be screened for eligibility prior to the study and given time to consider their participation. Once consent has been gained, participants will be asked to complete a 24 hour recall on 3 days during a 1 week run-in period (period prior to consuming the intervention/placebo). Participants will be asked to donate a stool and urine sample on the first day of the study. They will be asked to complete a Bristol stool chart daily (to monitor bowel habits) and a Short Health Scale for GastroIntestinal symptoms (SHS-GI) questionnaire daily (to monitor gastrointestinal symptoms) and to complete a second 3 -day dietary recall at the end of the 4 week intervention. On the last day of the 4 week intervention participants will be asked to give a second stool and urine sample. The participants will also be asked to give a third sample after a 4 week washout period (a period where participants will not consume any intervention). The purpose of this washout period it to assess whether any changes to the gut microbiota are reversed after 4 weeks. The collected stool and urine samples will be analysed using microbial and metabolic profiling to identify differences in gut microbiota composition and function. Participants will be allocated unique ID codes and will be given the opportunity to withdraw at any time during the study without explanation.