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Alpha-Gal SyndromeNCT06268717

GI Alpha-Gal Study

A study testing Ground pork containing alpha-gal and Pork meat not containing alpha-gal in people with Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This is a double-blind, crossover food challenge study using pork with and without α-gal in patients with a clinical diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI)- α-gal allergy, and to investigate the pathophysiology underlying their symptoms. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 99 years
What is being tested?
Ground pork containing alpha-gal and Pork meat not containing alpha-gal
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
30 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
17 Oct 2023to 2 Jun 2026
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 18 to 99 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • The subject is at least 18 years of age.
  • The subject has a history of gastrointestinal alpha-gal allergy defined by elevated test for α-gal allergy (α-gal IgE >0.1 U/L) due to complaints of either abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, nausea with or without vomiting, or a combination of those complaints, within the last 5 years. The subjects must have experienced one or more of the four symptoms at least once monthly for at least two months. The subjects will fill out a symptom questionnaire of the presence of these four symptoms (abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting), frequency and severity (mild, moderate, or severe) for the 3 months prior to diagnosis.
  • The subject has experienced symptomatic improvement on a mammalian meat-free diet over at least a month's time, defined by saying "yes" to the following question: "On the alpha-gal avoidant diet, have you had adequate relief of gastrointestinal symptoms?"
  • The subject has elevated α-gal IgE titer on screening for the trial if they do not have a positive titer within 6 months of enrollment.
  • The subject is willing to not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, leukotriene modifiers or steroids 14 days prior to challenge.
  • The subject is willing to sign the informed consent form.

Who cannot join

  • The subject has health conditions that would pose a significant threat in the face of anaphylaxis or treatment for anaphylaxis (e.g., cardiac disease, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmias).
  • The subject is allergic to mannitol.
  • If female, the subject is pregnant.
  • The subject has a history of chronic GI conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis with continued symptoms (experience moderate-severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, or nausea/vomiting that occur more frequently than once weekly)
  • The subject has diarrhea (one or more loose stools that conform to the container), moderate to severe abdominal pain, or vomiting within 10 days prior to the challenge.
  • The subject has a history of severe allergic reaction on mammalian meat ingestion (respiratory distress, chest pain or cardiopulmonary compromise)
Show all 15Show fewer
  • The subject is unwilling to receive intramuscular epinephrine.
  • The subject is anticipated to use omalizumab within 6 months of enrollment.
  • The subject is anticipated to use systemic steroids within 28 days of food challenge.
  • The subject is anticipated to use leukotriene modifier within 14 days of food challenge.
  • The subject is unable to not use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for 14 days prior to challenge.
  • Additional Exclusion Criteria for Subjects Undergoing Transnasal Endoscopy and Biopsy
  • Known conditions that are contraindications to transnasal endoscopy, or in the opinion of the investigator any condition that would interfere with the study objectives.
  • History of head and neck malignancy or anatomical deformities of the nasopharynx
  • Severe anxiety

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Understanding Gastrointestinal Alpha-Gal Syndrome: (GI Alpha-Gal Study)

This is a double-blind, crossover food challenge study using pork with and without α-gal in patients with a clinical diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI)- α-gal allergy, and to investigate the pathophysiology underlying their symptoms.

Read the detailed description

Each participant will be randomized to undergo two double-blind food challenges with at least a 10-day washout period between the challenges. One food challenge will contain pork meat with alpha gal sugar; one challenge will contain pork meat without the alpha gal sugar. During the challenges, participants will drink lactulose and C13 mannitol dissolved in water. The principal investigator and clinical research coordinators will be blinded to the challenges during the course of the study. The metabolic kitchen and a delegated research staff member will be unblinded.

On consenting patients, a transnasal upper endoscopy (TNE) will be performed on each challenge day, pre-challenge, at hour 0 and post-challenge, at hour 6. During the TNE, esophagus, stomach and small bowel samples will be collected. Gastrointestinal pathology samples will be evaluated for inflammatory cells and also biobanked for further messenger RNA (mRNA) sequencing studies.

Blood and urine will be collected during each challenge. Samples will be transported to a lab and analyzed for tryptase, basophil activation, and lactulose/ mannitol levels. The principal investigator may take pictures of the skin changes from participants who have skin changes such as rashes, hives, flushing, etc. during the challenge visits to assess the adverse events after getting consent.

Being tested
Ground pork containing alpha-gal, Pork meat not containing alpha-gal
Keywords
Alpha-Gal Syndrome, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting
Medical subject headings
red meat allergy, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Vomiting

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Ground pork containing alpha-galOther

    150 grams of cooked, ground pork meat containing alpha-gal sugar eaten once

  • Pork meat not containing alpha-galOther

    150 grams of cooked, ground pork meat not containing alpha-gal sugar

Study groups in NCT06268717
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Food challenge with pork meat containing alpha-gal, then pork meat without alpha gal sugarActive comparatorParticipants receive a food challenge, consuming pork meat that contains alpha-gal. After a >10-day washout period, participants undergo a food challenge with pork which does not contain alpha-gal.
Receives: Other: Ground pork containing alpha-gal; Other: Pork meat not containing alpha-gal
Food challenge with pork meat without alpha gal sugar, then pork meat containing alpha-galActive comparatorParticipants receive a food challenge consuming pork meat that does not contain alpha-gal sugar. After a >10-day washout period, participants undergo a food challenge with pork which does contain alpha-gal.
Receives: Other: Ground pork containing alpha-gal; Other: Pork meat not containing alpha-gal

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Allergic reaction (food challenge positive)

    Presence of allergic reaction within 6 hours of the challenge. Reported as dichotomous: food challenge positive (reaction) or food challenge negative (no reaction).

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

  2. No allergic reaction (food challenge negative)

    No allergic reaction within 6 hours of the challenge. Reported as dichotomous: food challenge positive (reaction) or food challenge negative (no reaction).

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

  3. Lactulose excretion

    C13 mannitol quantification with high-performance liquid chromatography- C13 mannitol excreted in the urine in the six hours following ingestion will be measured as a marker of intestinal permeability.

    Measured: 0- 6 hours post ingestion

  4. C13 mannitol excretion

    C13 mannitol quantification with high-performance liquid chromatography- C13 mannitol excreted in the urine in the six hours following ingestion will be measured as a marker of intestinal permeability.

    Measured: 0-6 hours post ingestion

  5. Basophil activation threshold response at timepoint 0

    Basophil activation threshold responses - peripheral blood basophils will be isolated and stimulated with mammal-based extracts to create a dose-response curve for concentrations of antigen leading to CD63 activation

    Measured: 0 hours (prior to ingestion)

  6. Basophil activation threshold response at 2 hours

    Basophil activation threshold responses - peripheral blood basophils will be isolated and stimulated with mammal-based extracts to create a dose-response curve for concentrations of antigen leading to CD63 activation.

    Measured: 2 hours post ingestion

  7. Basophil activation threshold response at 4 hours

    Basophil activation threshold responses - peripheral blood basophils will be isolated and stimulated with mammal-based extracts to create a dose-response curve for concentrations of antigen leading to CD63 activation.

    Measured: 4 hours post ingestion

  8. Basophil activation threshold response at 6 hours

    Basophil activation threshold responses - peripheral blood basophils will be isolated and stimulated with mammal-based extracts to create a dose-response curve for concentrations of antigen leading to CD63 activation. Results pre- and post- pork challenge will be compared to assess for changes in basophil responses

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

  9. Serum tryptase at timepoint 0

    Serum tryptase- serum tryptase levels will be quantified.

    Measured: 0 hours (prior to ingestion)

  10. Serum tryptase at 2 hours

    Serum tryptase- serum tryptase levels will be quantified.

    Measured: 2 hours post ingestion

  11. Serum tryptase at 4 hours

    Serum tryptase- serum tryptase levels will be quantified.

    Measured: 4 hours post ingestion

  12. Serum tryptase at 6 hours

    Serum tryptase- serum tryptase levels will be quantified.

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

  13. Mast cell count on stomach biopsies (per high powered field (hpf))

    The number of mast cells will be counted at high-powered field on biopsy specimens of the stomach.

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

  14. Mast cell count on small bowel biopsies (per high powered field (hpf))

    The number of mast cells will be counted at high-powered field on biopsy specimens of the small bowel.

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

  15. Eosinophil cell count on stomach biopsies (per high powered field (hpf))

    The number of eosinophil cells will be counted at high-powered field on biopsy specimens of the stomach.

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

  16. Eosinophil cell count on small bowel biopsies (per high powered field (hpf))

    The number of eosinophil cells will be counted at high-powered field on biopsy specimens of the small bowel.

    Measured: 6 hours post ingestion

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. GI Symptom Rating Score (GSRS)

    The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) assesses gastrointestinal symptoms as experienced by participants in the 24-hours following a challenge. The scale covers 17 specific G1 symptoms, each rated on a 0-5 scale where 0 (no symptoms), 1 (very mild), 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), 4 (severe), 5 (very severe)

    Measured: 24 hours post challenge

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted20 Feb 2024
  2. Study start17 Oct 2023
  3. Primary completion2 Jun 2026
  4. Study completion2 Jun 2026

Resources

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
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
Double-blind crossover. Each participant will be randomized to undergo two double-blind food challenges with at least a 10-day washout period between the challenges. One food challenge will contain pork meat containing alpha-gal sugar; one challenge will contain pork meat without alpha-gal sugar.
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
30 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06268717
Sponsor's protocol ID
23-0316
Status last verified
Jun 2026
First submitted
12 Feb 2024
Last updated
8 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with UNC.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Ground pork containing alpha-gal and Pork meat not containing alpha-gal in people with Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, run by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill at 1 site 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?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. 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 8 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site 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. 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?

Allergic reaction (food challenge positive) (time frame: 6 hours post ingestion). The study lists 16 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
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 8 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 27 Oct 2026.

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