Investigating the impact of alcohol and gut health on heart disease in people with HIV
Microbiome, Metabolites, and Alcohol in HIV to Reduce CVD (META HIV CVD)
This study is looking at how drinking alcohol affects gut health and heart disease risk in people with HIV who drink a lot, and it will test if a special probiotic can help improve their gut health by reducing bad bacteria; if you're interested in how your gut and heart health might be connected to alcohol use, this research could be for you!
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10908485 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on how alcohol consumption affects gut health and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in individuals living with HIV who are heavy drinkers. It aims to test whether a specially designed probiotic can improve gut health by reducing harmful bacteria and metabolites associated with alcohol use. The study will involve a randomized controlled trial with 250 participants to assess the probiotic's effectiveness and a larger cohort study of 2,900 individuals to explore the relationship between gut metabolites and CVD outcomes. Participants will be monitored for changes in inflammation and heart disease risk factors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are heavy drinkers and at risk for cardiovascular disease.
Not a fit: Patients who do not consume alcohol or those without HIV may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new probiotic treatments that reduce heart disease risk in people living with HIV who consume alcohol.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in using probiotics to improve gut health, but this specific approach in the context of HIV and alcohol is novel.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Freiberg, Matthew S — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Freiberg, Matthew S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.