Colon CancerNCT03028831
Fiber to Reduce Colon Cancer in Alaska Native People
A study testing 70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starch and Resistant starch in people with Colon Cancer, run by University of Pittsburgh at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
Alaska native people (AN) have the highest recorded incidence and death rate from colon cancer in the world (>90:100,000). We hypothesize that the AN, despite their high consumption of anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic n-3 fish oils, are at increased risk of colon cancer because of colonic butyrate deficiency… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 40 to 70 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Colon Cancer
- What is being tested?
- 70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starch and Resistant starch
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 48 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 Dec 2017to 31 Dec 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 40 to 70 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Inclusion Criteria: Healthy AN volunteers (from GI standpoint) between 40-70 years (age at which colon cancer screening colonoscopy is recommended in this population) and BMI between 18-40 Kg/m2. It should be noted that in our previous study, we found no difference in the responses of the key parameters (mucosal biomarkers, butyrate and secondary bile acid producers, fecal SCFA and bile acids) to increased fiber diets between those with normal body weight, those overweight, and those who were obese (Nature Comm Supplement). Patients who have, or have had noncancerous polyps removed previously by colonoscopy will be eligible. Alaska Native race will be defined as those eligible to receive health care through the Alaska Tribal Health System. Exclusion criteria: These are detailed under Human Subjects. Participants will be ineligible if they have a history of familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, or have previous colonoscopic evidence of inflammatory bowel disease or colon cancer. Also ineligible will be individuals with known renal, hepatic, or bleeding disorders; previous GI surgery resulting in disturbed gut function due to of loss of bowel or altered anatomy; or any form of chronic GI disease resulting in disturbed gut function, diarrhea, and malabsorption. Individuals with antibiotic use within the past 12 weeks, current steroids use, or on medical treatment for diabetes, will also be excluded.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Alaskan Native Tribal Health Consortium
Anchorage, Alaska, 99508
Upittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213
About this study
Official title: Randomized Controlled Trial of Resistant Starch to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk in Alaska Native People.
Alaska native people (AN) have the highest recorded incidence and death rate from colon cancer in the world (>90:100,000). We hypothesize that the AN, despite their high consumption of anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic n-3 fish oils, are at increased risk of colon cancer because of colonic butyrate deficiency resulting from their remarkably low consumption of fiber-containing foods. We hypothesize that fiber supplementation of their usual diet will result in a bloom of butyrate producing microbes in the colon, resulting in increased butyrate production, which will suppress their high microbial secondary bile acid production, antagonize the actions of other food (smoked fish) and environmental carcinogens (tobacco, alcohol), and interact with the high circulating levels of n-3 fish oils to suppress colonic inflammation and cancer risk. In order to investigate this, we will conduct a randomized double-blinded 4-week clinical trial in up to 100 randomizable healthy, middle-aged AN undergoing screening colonoscopy, with the objective of obtaining 60 completed interventions. The interventions will consist of either a high-dose soluble fiber supplement given as a drink, together with their usual diet which currently contains about 15g total fiber/d, or to a control digestible starch drink plus their usual diet. The primary endpoint will be a clinically significant reduction in Ki67 proliferative colonic mucosal biomarkers of cancer risk. Microbiome and metabolome mechanisms responsible for the anticipated changes in mucosal biomarkers will also be investigated. Our results in extreme risk AN will be further evaluated by comparison to similar measurements previously made in minimal risk rural Africans and intermediate risk African Americans. Our results will be used to provide the scientific basis for a definitive large-scale high-fiber supplementation study (to achieve >50g total fiber/d) to suppress adenomatous polyp recurrence following colonoscopy.
Read the detailed description
Randomization for the double blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial: Recruitment will continue until 60 volunteers have completed the intervention study. Based on previous experience with similar studies, we anticipate 20% of screened patients to be ineligible or drop out, which means, so we plan on consenting and screening approximately 100 potential participants. Baseline data from these participants will be retained. Individuals will be randomized via minimisation (based on age, sex, polypectomy, high fish consumption, and BMI - factors that might influence microbiota composition and function)) to either the resistant starch (RS) group or the control digestible starch (DS) group upon completion of the Stabilization Period.
- RS Group: Participants will continue with their usual diet plus fiber supplement given as a daily dose of 70g high-amylose maize starch (HAM-RS, HI-MAIZE®260: Ingredion Incorporated, Bridgewater, NJ), which contains 42g of type 2 resistant starch, for 4 weeks. Data from previous studies[69] suggests that their usual diet will contain approximately 13g dietary fiber/day, chiefly insoluble, indicating that total fiber intake would be approx. 55g/d. Supplements will be pre-weighed out in batches from the same source and kept in airtight containers. The supplement may be taken as a single or divided dose dissolved in 250ml water, low fat milk, or orange juice
- DS (Control) Group participants will continue on their usual diet, plus 70g of fully digestible starch (waxy corn starch comprised of amylopectin, AMIOCA® corn starch, Ingredion Incorporated, Bridgewater, NJ ) weighed out, analyzed, and prepared as previously. The RS and control supplements will appear and taste similar, allowing for coding and distribution in a double-blind fashion. The supplements will be equicaloric.
Interventions will include fecal and colonic content sampling for measurement of the microbiome and metabolome, and flexible sigmoidoscopy to obtain mucosal biopsies before and after the dietary supplementation.
Monitoring During the Clinical Trial: This will follow the scheme laid out on Figure 7. On day 0, participants will visit the clinic and will be asked to save their first fecal sample using our standard operating procedure developed and proven to be effective in our last study. They will then be given their first supplement drink made up in their vehicle of choice, and taken with a standard meal provided by the diet kitchen. During the trial, they will be instructed on the use of a simple diary to be completed at home. This will record the major food items consumed each day, the timing and completion of drink supplements, as well as the bowel function questionnaire to assess daily GI tolerance, i.e. abdominal discomfort, distension, gas, bowel frequency, nausea, vomiting. They will be asked to return to the clinic for a follow-up appointment on day 7, 14 and 21 in order to repeat the fecal and breath tests described above. At the same time, body weight will be monitored using one scale. At the end of 4 weeks, participants will be asked to return to the clinic for repeat of the colonic sampling performed at baseline.
- Conditions
- Colon Cancer
- Being tested
- 70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starch, Resistant starch
- Medical subject headings
- Colonic Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starchDietary supplement
Fully digestible amylopectin corn starch
Resistant starchDietary supplement
70g high-amylose maize starch
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Resistant Starch | Active comparator | 70g high-amylose maize starch which contains 42g of type 2 resistant starch Receives: Dietary Supplement: Resistant starch |
| Digestible Starch | Placebo comparator | 70g of fully digestible starch comprised of amylopectin corn starch. Receives: Dietary Supplement: 70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starch |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
colonic mucosal proliferation
biomarker of cancer risk
Measured: 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
colonic microbiota
fecal and colonic microbiota analysis
Measured: 4 weeks
colonic secondary bile acids
fecal and colonic conjugated bile acid analysis
Measured: 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jan 2017 (estimated)
- Study start11 Dec 2017
- Primary completion31 Dec 2022
- Study completion31 Dec 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Colon CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PittsburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- dietary supplementation
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Stephen O'Keefe, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Gabriela Riscuta, Study director, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03028831
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- PRO16080079
- Status last verified
- Dec 2022
- First submitted
- 18 Jan 2017
- Last updated
- 16 May 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: we will use a public deposit when all the data analysis is completed
Publications
O'Keefe SJ. Diet, microorganisms and their metabolites, and colon cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Dec;13(12):691-706. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2016.165. Epub 2016 Nov 16.
PubMed 27848961O'Keefe SJ, Li JV, Lahti L, Ou J, Carbonero F, Mohammed K, Posma JM, Kinross J, Wahl E, Ruder E, Vipperla K, Naidoo V, Mtshali L, Tims S, Puylaert PG, DeLany J, Krasinskas A, Benefiel AC, Kaseb HO, Newton K, Nicholson JK, de Vos WM, Gaskins HR, Zoetendal EG. Fat, fibre and cancer risk in African Americans and rural Africans. Nat Commun. 2015 Apr 28;6:6342. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7342.
PubMed 25919227Ou J, Carbonero F, Zoetendal EG, DeLany JP, Wang M, Newton K, Gaskins HR, O'Keefe SJ. Diet, microbiota, and microbial metabolites in colon cancer risk in rural Africans and African Americans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Jul;98(1):111-20. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.056689. Epub 2013 May 29.
PubMed 23719549Koller KR, Wilson A, Normolle DP, Nicholson JK, Li JV, Kinross J, Lee FR, Flanagan CA, Merculieff ZT, Iyer P, Lammers DL, Thomas TK, O'Keefe SJD. Dietary fibre to reduce colon cancer risk in Alaska Native people: the Alaska FIRST randomised clinical trial protocol. BMJ Open. 2021 Aug 27;11(8):e047162. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047162.
PubMed 34452959Koller KR, Wilson AS, Eberhart BL 2nd, Day GM, Lee FR, Perez MR, Thomas TK, O'Keefe SJD. Tolerance of high fibre supplementation among participants in a randomised trial to reduce cancer risk among Alaska Native peoples: Alaska FIRST. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2025 Dec;84(1):2561283. doi: 10.1080/22423982.2025.2561283. Epub 2025 Sep 26.
PubMed 40999949
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 16 May 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Randomized Controlled Trial of Resistant Starch to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk in Alaska Native People.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03028831
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PRO16080079
- Conditions
- Colon Cancer
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 48 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PittsburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium
- Study start
- 11 Dec 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 23 Jan 2017 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Alaska native people (AN) have the highest recorded incidence and death rate from colon cancer in the world (>90:100,000). We hypothesize that the AN, despite their high consumption of anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic n-3 fish oils, are at increased risk of colon cancer because of colonic butyrate deficiency resulting from their remarkably low consumption of fiber-containing foods. We hypothesize that fiber supplementation of their usual diet will result in a bloom of butyrate producing microbes in the colon, resulting in increased butyrate production, which will suppress their high microbial secondary bile acid production, antagonize the actions of other food (smoked fish) and environmental carcinogens (tobacco, alcohol), and interact with the high circulating levels of n-3 fish oils to suppress colonic inflammation and cancer risk. In order to investigate this, we will conduct a randomized double-blinded 4-week clinical trial in up to 100 randomizable healthy, middle-aged AN undergoing screening colonoscopy, with the objective of obtaining 60 completed interventions. The interventions will consist of either a high-dose soluble fiber supplement given as a drink, together with their usual diet which currently contains about 15g total fiber/d, or to a control digestible starch drink plus their usual diet. The primary endpoint will be a clinically significant reduction in Ki67 proliferative colonic mucosal biomarkers of cancer risk. Microbiome and metabolome mechanisms responsible for the anticipated changes in mucosal biomarkers will also be investigated. Our results in extreme risk AN will be further evaluated by comparison to similar measurements previously made in minimal risk rural Africans and intermediate risk African Americans. Our results will be used to provide the scientific basis for a definitive large-scale high-fiber supplementation study (to achieve >50g total fiber/d) to suppress adenomatous polyp recurrence following colonoscopy.
Detailed description
Randomization for the double blind, placebo controlled, clinical trial: Recruitment will continue until 60 volunteers have completed the intervention study. Based on previous experience with similar studies, we anticipate 20% of screened patients to be ineligible or drop out, which means, so we plan on consenting and screening approximately 100 potential participants. Baseline data from these participants will be retained. Individuals will be randomized via minimisation (based on age, sex, polypectomy, high fish consumption, and BMI - factors that might influence microbiota composition and function)) to either the resistant starch (RS) group or the control digestible starch (DS) group upon completion of the Stabilization Period.
- RS Group: Participants will continue with their usual diet plus fiber supplement given as a daily dose of 70g high-amylose maize starch (HAM-RS, HI-MAIZE®260: Ingredion Incorporated, Bridgewater, NJ), which contains 42g of type 2 resistant starch, for 4 weeks. Data from previous studies[69] suggests that their usual diet will contain approximately 13g dietary fiber/day, chiefly insoluble, indicating that total fiber intake would be approx. 55g/d. Supplements will be pre-weighed out in batches from the same source and kept in airtight containers. The supplement may be taken as a single or divided dose dissolved in 250ml water, low fat milk, or orange juice
- DS (Control) Group participants will continue on their usual diet, plus 70g of fully digestible starch (waxy corn starch comprised of amylopectin, AMIOCA® corn starch, Ingredion Incorporated, Bridgewater, NJ ) weighed out, analyzed, and prepared as previously. The RS and control supplements will appear and taste similar, allowing for coding and distribution in a double-blind fashion. The supplements will be equicaloric.
Interventions will include fecal and colonic content sampling for measurement of the microbiome and metabolome, and flexible sigmoidoscopy to obtain mucosal biopsies before and after the dietary supplementation.
Monitoring During the Clinical Trial: This will follow the scheme laid out on Figure 7. On day 0, participants will visit the clinic and will be asked to save their first fecal sample using our standard operating procedure developed and proven to be effective in our last study. They will then be given their first supplement drink made up in their vehicle of choice, and taken with a standard meal provided by the diet kitchen. During the trial, they will be instructed on the use of a simple diary to be completed at home. This will record the major food items consumed each day, the timing and completion of drink supplements, as well as the bowel function questionnaire to assess daily GI tolerance, i.e. abdominal discomfort, distension, gas, bowel frequency, nausea, vomiting. They will be asked to return to the clinic for a follow-up appointment on day 7, 14 and 21 in order to repeat the fecal and breath tests described above. At the same time, body weight will be monitored using one scale. At the end of 4 weeks, participants will be asked to return to the clinic for repeat of the colonic sampling performed at baseline.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- dietary supplementation
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Resistant Starch | Active comparator | Dietary Supplement: Resistant starch70g high-amylose maize starch which contains 42g of type 2 resistant starch |
| Digestible Starch | Placebo comparator | Dietary Supplement: 70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starch70g of fully digestible starch comprised of amylopectin corn starch. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 40 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| 70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starchFully digestible amylopectin corn starch | Dietary supplement | Digestible Starch |
| Resistant starch70g high-amylose maize starch | Dietary supplement | Resistant Starch |
Primary outcome
colonic mucosal proliferation
Time frame: 4 weeks
biomarker of cancer risk
2 secondary outcomes
colonic microbiota
Time frame: 4 weeks
colonic secondary bile acids
Time frame: 4 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 16 May 2023.
- Background: PubMed 27848961O'Keefe SJ. Diet, microorganisms and their metabolites, and colon cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Dec;13(12):691-706. doi: 10.1038/nrgastro.2016.165. Epub 2016 Nov 16.
- Results publication: PubMed 25919227O'Keefe SJ, Li JV, Lahti L, Ou J, Carbonero F, Mohammed K, Posma JM, Kinross J, Wahl E, Ruder E, Vipperla K, Naidoo V, Mtshali L, Tims S, Puylaert PG, DeLany J, Krasinskas A, Benefiel AC, Kaseb HO, Newton K, Nicholson JK, de Vos WM, Gaskins HR, Zoetendal EG. Fat, fibre and cancer risk in African Americans and rural Africans. Nat Commun. 2015 Apr 28;6:6342. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7342.
- Results publication: PubMed 23719549Ou J, Carbonero F, Zoetendal EG, DeLany JP, Wang M, Newton K, Gaskins HR, O'Keefe SJ. Diet, microbiota, and microbial metabolites in colon cancer risk in rural Africans and African Americans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Jul;98(1):111-20. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.112.056689. Epub 2013 May 29.
- Results publication: PubMed 34452959Koller KR, Wilson A, Normolle DP, Nicholson JK, Li JV, Kinross J, Lee FR, Flanagan CA, Merculieff ZT, Iyer P, Lammers DL, Thomas TK, O'Keefe SJD. Dietary fibre to reduce colon cancer risk in Alaska Native people: the Alaska FIRST randomised clinical trial protocol. BMJ Open. 2021 Aug 27;11(8):e047162. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047162.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40999949Koller KR, Wilson AS, Eberhart BL 2nd, Day GM, Lee FR, Perez MR, Thomas TK, O'Keefe SJD. Tolerance of high fibre supplementation among participants in a randomised trial to reduce cancer risk among Alaska Native peoples: Alaska FIRST. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2025 Dec;84(1):2561283. doi: 10.1080/22423982.2025.2561283. Epub 2025 Sep 26.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. we will use a public deposit when all the data analysis is completed
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Gabriela Riscuta study director
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 70g of fully digestible starch amylopectin corn starch and Resistant starch in people with Colon Cancer, run by University of Pittsburgh at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 16 May 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
colonic mucosal proliferation (time frame: 4 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03028831, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 16 May 2023.