Investigating the effects of the DASH diet on gut microbiota in healthy adults

Determining the structural-and Functional-level Effects of Diet-specific Interventions on the Gut-microbiota of a Diverse Sample of Southern United States Adults

Not applicable Interventional H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute · NCT04538482

This study is testing whether following the DASH diet for 28 days can improve gut health in healthy adults compared to a standard American diet.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment112 (estimated)
Ages19 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute Academic / other
Locations1 site (Tampa, Florida)
Trial IDNCT04538482 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study recruits 112 generally healthy black and white adults from Birmingham, AL, to participate in a 28-day randomized, controlled feeding intervention. Participants will be assigned to either the DASH diet or a standard American diet, with all meals provided by the study. Fecal samples will be collected at various time points to analyze changes in gut microbiota using advanced sequencing techniques. The study aims to determine if the DASH diet leads to greater improvements in gut microbiota diversity and specific microbial abundances associated with colorectal cancer compared to the standard diet.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy adults aged 19-65 who identify as black or white and can travel daily to the UAB Bionutrition Unit.

Not a fit: Patients with gastrointestinal conditions, major medical issues, or those who have used antibiotics or probiotics recently may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into dietary interventions that promote gut health and potentially reduce cancer risk.

How similar studies have performed: While dietary interventions have been explored in various contexts, this specific approach focusing on the DASH diet's impact on gut microbiota is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* black or white race
* non-Hispanic ethnicity
* age 19-65 years
* able to travel to the UAB Bionutrition Unit daily to retrieve meals

Exclusion Criteria:

* gastrointestinal (GI) conditions i.e., irritable bowel, diverticulitis, peptic ulcers, Crohn's, GI cancers, and adenatomous polyps
* antibiotic or probiotic use in the previous 90 days
* smoking/tobacco use
* heavy alcohol consumption
* major medical conditions (e.g., renal disease, diabetes, cancer

Where this trial is running

Tampa, Florida

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions MicrobiotaCancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.