Fibres plus probiotics to help gut bacteria break down uric acid

Potential Effects of Fibres Combined With Probiotics on Uric Acid and Related Metabolites in an ex Vivo Fermentation Model

Researchers will test whether combining dietary fibers with probiotics helps gut bacteria break down uric acid using stool samples from adults with high uric acid.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 15 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 80 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Örebro University, Sweden (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Örebro)
• Trial ID: NCT06981663 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational project enrolls adults who provide a blood sample to confirm hyperuricemia and, if eligible, stool samples collected across three visits. Stool material will be used in an ex vivo faecal fermentation model where different beta-glucan fibres are tested alone and together with probiotic strains. Participants must avoid regular probiotic foods and certain supplements or medications before stool collection to avoid confounding the microbiota. The goal is to see whether these combinations change microbial urate metabolism in the laboratory, which could guide future clinical interventions.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18–80 with confirmed blood uric acid above 0.36 mmol/L (6 mg/dL), BMI 18.5–35, and willing to avoid probiotic foods and certain supplements/medications before stool collection.

Not a fit: People with exclusion conditions (for example diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, recent systemic antibiotic or steroid use, pregnancy/breastfeeding, major GI surgery, or current psychiatric/neurodegenerative diagnoses) will not qualify and there is no direct treatment benefit because the work is laboratory-based.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to fiber-plus-probiotic approaches that support gut breakdown of uric acid and inform non-drug strategies to lower urate.

How similar studies have performed: Prior preclinical and small clinical studies suggest the gut microbiota can influence uric acid, but combining specific fibres and probiotics in ex vivo fermentation models is exploratory and not yet proven to change patient outcomes.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed informed consent prior to any study-related procedures
2. Age 18-80 years old
3. BMI range 18.5-35 kg/m2
4. Blood uric acid above 0.36 mmol/L (6 mg/dl)
5. Willing to abstain from regular consumption of probiotic supplements or food products containing probiotic bacteria (including fermented food and beverages), until collection of faecal material
6. Willing to abstain from regular consumption of supplements and medications known to alter gastrointestinal function or inflammatory status during the study, until collection of faecal material

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of type 1 and/or type 2 diabetes
2. Diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
3. Current diagnosis of psychiatric disease/s or syndromes
4. Current diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease
5. Current pregnancy or breastfeeding
6. History of complicated gastrointestinal surgery
7. Systemic use of antibiotics and/or steroid medication in the last 4 months prior to inclusion
8. Regular use of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the last 2 months
9. Consumption of any NSAID within 3 days of sample collection
10. Current (or within the last 4 weeks prior to study start) use of probiotic supplementation
11. Any condition or intake of medication which could substantially interfere with the outcome of the study, as decided by the principal investigator's discretion
12. After being included in the study and until collection of faecal material, starting any medication or treatment that could potentially influence the study participation and/or study analysis

Where this trial is running

Örebro

• Örebro University — Örebro, Sweden (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Julia König, PhD

Conditions: Hyperuricemia, hyperuricemia