The BALANCE Study - Improving Glucose Control Through Prebiotic Gut Health Drink in Postmenopausal Women

Sponsor
University of Roehampton
Study ID
NCT07565675
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
45 Years - 60 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • ió everyday (a prebiotic- enriched gut health drink containing inulin) — DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
    Participants will consume the equivalent placebo comparator for 4 weeks. Each sachet contains 5 g inulin of maltodextrin. Participants will consume one sachet daily in week 1 to allow acclimatisation, increasing to two sachets daily in weeks 2-4. Sachets are diluted in 500 mL of water and consumed with lunch and dinner.
  • Placebo Comparator — DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT
    Participants will consume ió everyday for 4 weeks. Each sachet contains 4.5 g inulin and 6 g total fibre. Participants will consume one sachet daily in week 1 to allow acclimatisation, increasing to two sachets daily in weeks 2-4. Sachets are diluted in 500 mL of water and consumed with lunch and dinner.

Study Details

The menopausal transition is associated with a decline in oestrogen levels, contributing to adverse metabolic changes including increased central adiposity, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance. These changes are linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays an important role in metabolic regulation and glucose homeostasis. Menopause-related hormonal changes may alter the composition and function of the gut microbiome, with downstream effects on insulin sensitivity. Additionally, certain gut bacteria (i.e., Bifidobacterium species) regulate circulating oestrogen via β-glucuronidase activity, highlighting a potential interaction between microbial composition and hormonal balance. Observational findings support associations between menopausal stage, gut microbiota alterations, and insulin homeostasis. Prebiotics are non-digestible compounds that selectively stimulate beneficial gut bacteria and may improve metabolic outcomes. Modulation of the gut microbiota through prebiotic supplementation represents a promising non-pharmacological strategy to improve glucose control. Multiple studies have demonstrated that inulin (a common prebiotic) can improve glucose regulation and aid weight loss in individuals with obesity, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes. However, to date, no randomised controlled trials have specifically investigated prebiotic supplementation in postmenopausal women with prediabetes using dynamic measures such as the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). The present study aims to investigate the effect of daily consumption of an inulin-containing prebiotic gut health drink (ió everyday) on glucose control in postmenopausal women with prediabetes. The primary objective is to determine whether the intervention improves glycaemic control. Secondary objectives include exploration of changes in metabolic markers and assessment of the role of the gut microbiota in mediating these effects. It is hypothesised that consumption of ió everyday will improve glucose control in prediabetic women who have recently undergone menopause. This hypothesis is supported by evidence demonstrating that inulin and soluble corn fibre can improve glucose regulation and support weight management in individuals with obesity, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes, as well as findings from a previous study (Ethics Ref ID: LSC 23/383), which demonstrated that one month of ió everyday consumption significantly reduced fasting glucose, with a trend towards weight reduction and no reported adverse effects.

Key Dates

First listed
May 4, 2026
Start date
Jun 10, 2026
Status verified
May 2026
Primary completion
Jan 20, 2027
Completion
May 15, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Dietary Supplement: Formulation 1
    Each sachet contains 4.5 g inulin and 6 g total fibre. Participants will consume one sachet daily in week 1 to allow acclimatisation, increasing to two sachets daily in weeks 2-4. Sachets are diluted in 500 mL of water and consumed with lunch and dinner.
  • Placebo Comparator: Dietary Supplement: Formulation 2
    Calorie-matched comparator containing \~5 g maltodextrin

Primary Outcome Measure

Fasting Plasma Glucose [ Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks (end of intervention). ]

Central Contacts

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