How gut bacteria use and share Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 trafficking and selectivity in gut bacteria

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF OREGON · NIH-11125989

This research aims to understand how different bacteria in your gut use Vitamin B12, which could help us find new ways to improve gut health.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF OREGON (nih funded)
Locations1 site (EUGENE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11125989 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Our gut is home to many different bacteria, and the balance of these bacteria can affect our health and how we respond to medicines. We want to learn more about how these bacteria get and use Vitamin B12, a key nutrient they need to survive. By understanding how bacteria compete for Vitamin B12, we hope to discover ways to gently change the gut's bacterial community. This knowledge could lead to new treatments that help keep your gut healthy by influencing the microbial composition.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but future applications could benefit individuals with conditions related to gut microbiome imbalance.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention would not benefit from this basic science project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies for adjusting the gut microbiome to improve health and treat diseases.

How similar studies have performed: While the general concept of influencing the gut microbiome is an active area of research, this specific approach to understanding Vitamin B12 competition among gut bacteria is a novel and foundational step.

Where this research is happening

EUGENE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.