About this trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if probiotics work to prevent or reduce metabolic side effects caused by antipsychotic medication in adults.
The main question it aims to answer is:
Do probiotics reduce weight gain, blood sugar levels, and blood fat levels in people using antipsychotics?
Researchers will compare a probiotic (Ecologic® Barrier) to a placebo (a look-alike powder without active bacteria) to see if the probiotic is effective.
Participants will:
Take either probiotics or a placebo daily for 12 weeks (3 months) Dissolve two sachets in water and drink them each morning Visit the clinic (or receive home visits) four times: at the start, after 6 weeks, and after 12 weeks, plus an initial screening visit Undergo physical measurements (e.g., weight, blood pressure), complete questionnaires, and perform a cognitive test at specific visits Provide blood samples and stool samples at the beginning and end of the study Complete two 3-day food diaries during the study
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
About to start, or having started within the last 8 weeks, antipsychotic treatment with olanzapine, quetiapine*, clozapine or risperidone for treating psychosis
Aged between 18 - 65
No exposure to these four antipsychotic medications for longer than one week continuously in the last 6 months (except starting the treatment with the current medication 8 weeks prior to the inclusion)
The participant understands the study and is able to provide written informed consent.
Disqualifiers
Critically ill patients (e.g. ICU), diagnosed comorbid eating disorders, chronic GI-disorders, disorders of the liver or pancreas, pre-existing diagnosed diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome
Current use of medications known to target metabolism or weight (e.g, diabetes medication and GLP-1 agonists, proton pump inhibitors and diuretics/beta blockers) or use of antibiotics or probiotics (such as Yakult, Activia, or other probiotic supplements containing ≥10⁹ CFUs) in the past 4 weeks
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Inability to follow the intervention or other conditions that according to the investigator might interfere with the evaluation of the study objectives as judged by the treating physician
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Probiotic Formula
- Placebo
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
University Medical Center Groningen
Lead sponsor
The Dutch Brain Foundation (funding)
Collaborator
Parnassia Groep
Collaborator
KienVIP
Collaborator