Investigating Gut Hormone Levels in Human Health and Disease “GutHHD”

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Investigating gut hormone levels in human health and disease "GutHHD"

  • IRAS ID

    308204

  • Contact name

    Fiona Gribble

  • Contact email

    fmg23@cam.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 1 months, 23 days

  • Research summary

    Hormones released from the gut are known to regulate hunger and metabolism. Their levels are known to vary in the fed and fasted state, and depend on multiple additional factors.

    The protocol features three different study designs for assessing gut hormone levels in healthy volunteers and patients with a specific gastrointestinal or metabolic disease:

    Protocol A: Fasting and Post Meal Study

    We will aim to recruit up to 20 healthy volunteers to assess their gut hormone levels in the fasted and fed state. Blood samples will be taken to measure gut hormones and metabolic markers using liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) alongside traditional laboratory techniques.

    Protocol B: Two Meal Study

    We will aim to recruit up to 30 patients with bile acid diarrhoea or bile acid malabsorption to attend for 2 meal studies, at least 7 days apart.

    Blood samples will be used to measure gut hormones and metabolic markers using LC-MS alongside traditional laboratory techniques.

    Protocol C: Single Blood Test

    We will aim to recruit up to 30 patients referred for a SehCAT scan for investigation of bile acid diarrhoea.
    Recruits will attend after an overnight fast and have a single blood test taken.
    Blood samples will be measured for gut hormones and metabolic markers using LC-MS alongside traditional laboratory techniques.

    Additional:
    Depending on the results of each protocol we may wish to apply for an extension/amendment to perform the protocol on volunteers with a different gastrointestinal or metabolic disease.

  • REC name

    East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1

  • REC reference

    22/ES/0021

  • Date of REC Opinion

    1 Jun 2022

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion