Impact of a Nutritional Supplement on Metabolic Health

With our USDA partners, we have developed a whole-food, multi-component nutrient bars. Previous pilot studies demonstrated that short-term bar consumption results in favorable increases in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c), particularly large-HDL (HDL-L) in most lean but only in some overweight/obese individuals. Obesity is associated with poor gastrointestinal health and systemic inflammation, which are also associated with low HDL. Our hypothesis is that a carefully formulated nutritional supplement bar delivered in a whole food matrix can correct micronutrient deficiencies in obese adults and have a beneficial impact on indices of insulin dysregulation and the metabolic syndrome. The aims of this project are 1) to characterize the effect size on indices of lipid profile, homocysteine, inflammation, insulin resistance, micronutrient levels, DNA integrity, hunger and satiety, BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure with different formulations of CHORI bar taken twice daily for periods ranging from 2-8 weeks. We will also evaluate gut inflammation, redox status, tissue metals, and DNA integrity with novel exploratory assays that may serve as markers for micronutrient malnutrition and chronic disease risk. 2) Where significant improvement in the outcome variables is observed, we will attempt to "deconstruct" the bars and attempt to determine the active ingredients responsible for these changes.

Inclusion criteria

• Either taking no dietary supplements or willing to discontinue any dietary supplements for two weeks preceding the trial.
• Age >18 years
• BMI <40
• Blood pressure <140/90 mmHg, or stable blood pressure on medicines for past 3 months

Exclusion criteria

• Known diabetes mellitus according to the 2010 ADA criteria, but pre-diabetic subjects with known impaired glucose tolerance (fasting glucose 101-125, and 2-hour post-prandial glucose level 141-200 mg/dL) can remain eligible.
• Weight loss pharmacotherapy.
• Lipid-lowering medication as this will alter the lipid profile being measured.
• Renal disease as this may affect blood pressure and dietary requirements.
• Smoking
• Pregnancy- a negative urine pregnancy test will be documented for any women participants of childbearing age prior to enrollment.