Soluble fiber to help prevent asthma flare-ups in young children
Official title: Evaluation of Soluble Fiber as a Strategy to Decrease Asthma Morbidity in Pediatric Populations
Funded at Northern Arizona University · NIH-11368489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric study will look at whether increasing soluble dietary fiber can reduce asthma attacks and emergency visits in children aged 0-11 years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Arizona University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Flagstaff, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2017 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $332,806 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD012388-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children 0-11 years old with asthma in the Phoenix/Arizona area who can follow dietary guidance and attend regular assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Children with asthma who cannot adhere to dietary recommendations or have severe comorbidities may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on children with asthma and explores how fiber in the diet might influence gut microbes and their metabolic by-products to lessen asthma symptoms. Researchers will follow a community-based approach in Arizona, collecting dietary information, blood markers, and health outcomes over time. The study aims to connect fiber intake with changes in the gut microbiome and immune responses that could reduce morbidity from asthma.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could offer a simple dietary strategy to lower asthma symptoms and urgent care needs for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research links diet, gut microbiota, and asthma, but this specific soluble-fiber strategy in pediatric populations is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cope, Emily K — Northern Arizona University
- Study coordinator: Cope, Emily K
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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.