# Effect of Soluble Corn Fiber supplementation for 1 year on bone metabolism in adolescents (MetA-Bone Trial)

> **NIH NIH R01** · FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY · 2023 · $143,168

## Abstract

Project Summary
This Administrative Supplement for Research on Dietary Supplements is for year 5 of the funded
parent grant “MetA-Bone Trial” (# 5R01HD098589-04), a randomized double-blinded placebo-
controlled trial to determine the effects of 1-year soluble corn fiber (SCF) supplementation on
bone metabolism in children. This proposal will expand our research on the effects of SCF (a
prebiotic fiber) on the gut microbiome diversity and how this is associated with changes in body
composition inflammatory biomarkers in this sample. A total of 110 participants have been
recruited so far, of which >75% are minority (68% are Hispanics and 8% are Blacks). Fecal, 24-h
urine, and blood samples are being collected and saved in our biorepository for future analysis.
Evidence shows that the gut microbiome is associated with obesity, which is particularly higher
among Hispanics and Blacks. Obesity has been associated with a different bacteria composition
(less bacterial diversity and reduced Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio). Diets low in fiber (which is
very common in US children) also changes the microbiota. These changes in the gut could lead
to chronic, low-grade inflammation. This could be reversed or improved by prebiotic fiber
supplementation. The only 2 studies to date supplementing children with inulin (another type of
prebiotic fiber) found significant decreases in body weight z-score, percent body fat, IL-6, and gut
microbiome composition. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the effects
of SCF on gut microbiome diversity, body composition, and in inflammatory biomarkers in children
or in minorities. The aims of this administrative supplement are: (1) Evaluate the changes in the
gut microbiome diversity (through Shannon, Simpson, and Inverse Simpson indices, measures of
richness and evenness; new analyses) with 1-year SCF supplementation and how this is
associated with changes in body composition (% fat mass and lean mass from DXA scan); (2)
Evaluate the changes in inflammatory biomarkers (fecal calproctectin, urinary IL-6, and serum
CRP; new analyses) with 1-year SCF supplementation and if these changes are mediated by
changes in body composition; and (3) Engage 2 graduate students in training and mentorship to
build future research capacity for studying the role of dietary supplements in health and disease
prevention. If successful, the results from this application will improve our understanding of the
role of SCF on gut microbiome, body composition, and inflammation. This could lead to designing
interventions to promote supplementing diets with SCF for improving health and potentially
preventing chronic conditions associated with excessive fat mass and low-grade inflammation in
minority children and adolescents.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10764638
- **Project number:** 3R01HD098589-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CRISTINA PALACIOS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $143,168
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-06-11 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10764638

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10764638, Effect of Soluble Corn Fiber supplementation for 1 year on bone metabolism in adolescents (MetA-Bone Trial) (3R01HD098589-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-08 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10764638. Licensed CC0.

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