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Food DNA Digestion

NCT06687226 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2026-04-08

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This pilot study investigates the digestion rate of naturally occurring food DNA through the human digestive tract by detecting residual food DNA in stool samples. The investigators hypothesize that food DNA primarily transits through the digestive system within 24 hours, with maximal detection in stool samples collected the day after ingestion. Previous research has focused on food DNA digestion in human gastric juices, leaving digestion through the entire gut largely unexplored. This study employs a fixed-order within subjects design involving healthy participants. Each participant will submit a baseline stool sample, consume a single dose of a study-specific powdered food (reconstituted in water) differing from their usual diet, and provide the subsequent five stool samples. If five samples are collected in fewer than five days, an additional sample will be obtained on the fifth day post-consumption. The presence and decline of food specific DNA in these samples will be quantified using qPCR, enabling us to determine the digestion rate of food DNA. The study design poses with minimal risk as it non-invasively monitors the natural process of food DNA digestion and transit through stool sample analysis.

Conditions

  • Digestion Rate

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Reconstitutable food powder

During the intervention week, participants will be asked take one dose of a reconstitutable food powder provided in a ziplock bag. This powder will be a mix of Gatorade Zero Powder (1 serving) and 1 serving of commercially available powders of either one or all of the following: camu camu, kelp or maqui. The powder mix in the bag will be added to water and drunk by the participant as soon as possible after having a bowel movement (baseline stool sample). Food powders are sourced from reputable companies and are safe for consumption (Gatorade is a wellrecognized brand and available in grocery stores nationally, Navitas Organics provides certified organic, third-party tested plant food powders with fairtrade certification).

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Lawrence David · Duke University

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-07-01
Primary Completion
2027-07-01
Completion
2027-07-01

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06687226 on ClinicalTrials.gov