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Obesity & OverweightNCT07448519

Colonic Delivery of DIM and Perilla Oil on Gut Hormones and Food Intake in Obesity

A study testing Colonic-delivered DIM + Perilla oil in people with Obesity & Overweight and Appetite Regulation, run by Queen Mary University of London at 1 site in United Kingdom.

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

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether targeted food supplement capsules that release nutrients in the lower gut can increase appetite-regulating gut hormones and reduce food intake in adults with obesity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 60 years
Conditions the study is for
Obesity & Overweight, Appetite Regulation
What is being tested?
Colonic-delivered DIM + Perilla oil
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteUnited Kingdom
Study dates
13 Jun 2023to 2 Aug 2023
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 60 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Obese but otherwise healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 60 years, of either sex
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30-40 kg/m²
  • Agreement to eat the scheduled meals
  • Ability to understand the study information sheet and instructions in English, and able to provide informed consent

Who cannot join

  • Not meeting any of the inclusion criteria above
  • Major gut surgery involving removal of any part of the gastrointestinal tract
  • Known major bowel disease
  • Currently taking medication for diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2)
  • Currently taking medication for weight loss

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United Kingdom1 site
  • Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology

    London, E1 2AJ

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: The Effect of Targeted Food Supplements on Gut Hormone Levels

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether targeted food supplement capsules that release nutrients in the lower gut can increase appetite-regulating gut hormones and reduce food intake in adults with obesity.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Read more
  • Does the targeted supplement increase blood levels of appetite-related gut hormones such as PYY and GLP-1?
  • Does the supplement reduce calorie intake at a standardised test meal compared with placebo? Researchers will compare active supplement capsules with placebo capsules (inactive look-alike capsules) to see whether the supplement changes hormone levels and food intake.

Participants will:

  • Attend two study visits after an overnight fast
  • Take supplement capsules or placebo capsules in random order
  • Provide repeated blood samples during each study visit
  • Complete hunger and appetite rating questionnaires
  • Eat standardised breakfast and lunch meals so that calorie intake can be measured
Read the detailed description

This study evaluates whether a targeted combination of naturally derived food supplements delivered to the lower gut can stimulate the release of appetite-regulating hormones and reduce food intake in adults with obesity. Specialised nutrient receptors in the colon can trigger the release of hormones involved in appetite control when activated by specific nutrients. This study tests a new capsule formulation designed to deliver selected nutrients to the lower intestine to activate these receptors.

The study uses a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. Twenty adults with obesity (BMI 30-40 kg/m²) will complete two study visits separated by a washout period. At each visit, participants will receive either the active supplement formulation or matched placebo capsules.

At each visit, participants attend after an overnight fast. Blood samples are collected at regular intervals to measure circulating gut hormones including PYY, GLP-1, and ghrelin. Standardised breakfast and lunch meals with known calorie content are provided, and food intake is measured. Participants also complete repeated visual analogue scale questionnaires to assess hunger, fullness, and desire to eat.

The active formulation contains diindolylmethane (DIM) and perilla oil and is delivered using coated capsules designed for lower-gut release. The placebo capsules are visually identical and contain inactive material (methylcellulose). The crossover design allows each participant to receive both treatments for within-subject comparison.

The results will help determine whether targeted nutrient delivery to the colon can safely enhance appetite-regulating hormone responses and reduce food intake, supporting the development of non-drug approaches for appetite control in obesity.

Being tested
Colonic-delivered DIM + Perilla oil, Dietary Supplement: Colonic-delivered Placebo
Keywords
Gut Hormones, GLP-1, PYY, Appetite supression, Targeted nutrient delivery, Food supplement, Colon nutrient sensing
Medical subject headings
Obesity, Overweight

What participants receive

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

  • Colonic-delivered DIM + Perilla oilDietary supplement

    A single-capsule formulation delivering DIM (GPR84 agonist) and Perilla oil (ALA, FFA4 agonist) to the colon, designed to stimulate satiety hormone release (PYY and GLP-1) from colonic L-cells. Active treatment significantly increased circulating PYY and GLP-1 compared to placebo, with concomitant reduction in caloric intake observed in female volunteers at lunch. The formulation allows synergistic activation of GPR84 and FFA4, improving hormone release compared to previous multi-ingredient delivery methods.

  • Dietary Supplement: Colonic-delivered PlaceboDietary supplement

    A single-capsule formulation containing inactive methylcellulose, designed to reach the colon without pharmacological activity. It serves as a control to compare against active treatment, which significantly increased circulating PYY and GLP-1 and reduced caloric intake. Unlike the active formulation, the placebo does not stimulate GPR84 or FFA4, and therefore does not enhance hormone release.

Study groups in NCT07448519
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Placebo - Colonic Delivery CapsulePlacebo comparatorParticipants in this arm received a colonic delivery capsule containing inactive ingredients (placebo: methylcellulose). Capsules were administered prior to standard breakfast and lunch meals. Food intake, gut hormone release (PYY, GLP-1), and appetite perception (VAS) were monitored. No significant changes in caloric intake, appetite scores, or gut hormone profiles were expected from the placebo group.
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Dietary Supplement: Colonic-delivered Placebo
Active - Colonic Delivery CapsuleActive comparatorParticipants in this arm received a colonic delivery capsule containing active ingredients (DIM and perilla oil). Capsules were administered prior to standard breakfast and lunch meals. Food intake, gut hormone release (PYY, GLP-1), and appetite perception (VAS) were monitored. Changes in caloric intake, appetite scores, and gut hormone profiles were expected from the active group.
Receives: Dietary Supplement: Colonic-delivered DIM + Perilla oil

What is being measured

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

  1. Change in circulating levels of appetite-regulating gut hormones (PYY, GLP-1, ghrelin)

    Blood samples will be collected every 30 minutes from 08:00 to 16:00 on each study visit. The levels of peptide YY (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and ghrelin will be measured to assess the effect of targeted lower-gut nutrient delivery on appetite-regulating hormones in participants with obesity.

    Measured: Single day during each study visit (Visit 1 and Visit 2), with measurements every 30 minutes from 08:00 to 16:00.

Secondary outcomes (1)
  1. Subjective hunger and appetite ratings using visual analogue scales (VAS)

    Participants will complete hunger and satiety questionnaires using VAS at baseline (day -7) and every 30 minutes from 08:00h to 16:00h during each study visit. This will assess perceived appetite and satiety changes in response to active versus placebo supplementation.

    Measured: Baseline and during each study visit (Visit 1 and Visit 2), every 30 minutes from 08:00h to 16:00h.

Timeline

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

  1. First posted4 Mar 2026
  2. Study start13 Jun 2023
  3. Primary completion2 Aug 2023
  4. Study completion2 Aug 2023

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
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
Participants are randomly assigned to receive either active supplement capsules or matched placebo capsules at the first study visit, followed by the alternate treatment at the second visit after a washout period. This crossover design allows within-participant comparisons of hormone responses and food intake between treatments.
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07448519
Sponsor's protocol ID
QMREC23.061
Other IDs
10028205
Status last verified
Mar 2026
First submitted
26 Feb 2026
Last updated
24 Mar 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared outside the study team due to the sensitive nature of health and dietary information collected from obese volunteers. All results will be reported in aggregated form to ensure participant confidentiality and comply with ethical standards.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Colonic-delivered DIM + Perilla oil in people with Obesity & Overweight and Appetite Regulation, run by Queen Mary University of London at 1 site in United Kingdom.

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 4 inclusion and 5 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 24 Mar 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 Kingdom. 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?

Change in circulating levels of appetite-regulating gut hormones (PYY, GLP-1, ghrelin) (time frame: Single day during each study visit (Visit 1 and Visit 2), with measurements every 30 minutes from 08:00 to 16:00.). 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 24 Mar 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.

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