NCT07351175Active, not recruiting
Investigating The Potential Of A Hay-Aged Cheese To Reduce Cholesterol As Mediated By Changes In The Gut Microbiome
Investigating The Potential Of A Hay-Aged Cheese To Reduce Cholesterol As Mediated By Changes In The Gut Microbiome: A Randomised Control Trial
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 21 Oct 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
The goal of this intervention trial is to investigate the potential of an artisan cheese aged in hay to induce changes in the gut microbiota in a manner which mediates a reduction in total cholesterol in participants with elevated total cholesterol. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does daily consumption of a hay aged cheese over 12 weeks reduce total cholesterol by at least 0.5mmol/l when compared the control cheese (cheddar)? Are changes in total cholesterol level reflected in changes in gut microbiota composition and activity as measured by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing of stool composition and short chain fatty acid levels in urine? Participants will be asked to consume 30g portions of cheese every day for 12 weeks. This study is conducted in parallel, with participants either allocated onto the control arm (cheddar) or intervention arm (hay-aged cheese). Blood, stool, and urine samples will be taken throughout the trial, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure will also be measured.
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 40 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 2 Jan 2026
- Start date
- 26 Jan 2026
- Primary completion date
- Dec 2026
- Lead sponsor
- Anisha Wijeyesekera
- NCT number
- NCT07351175
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 40
- From 26 Jan 2026 to the primary completion date, Dec 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Use of antibiotics in the last 6 months prior to the study.
- Use of prebiotics, probiotics, laxatives, anti-spasmodic, anti-diarrhoeals, herb supplements in the last 4 weeks prior to or during the study period.
- Anyone diagnosed with vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, heart disease (previous stroke or heart attack) or have a pacemaker, kidney, bowel or liver diseases, cancer or hormone abnormalities.
- Participants currently involved or will be involved in another clinical or food study in the previous 1 month
Other illness
- Any chronic gut disorders/disease such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, etc or other conditions that might affect the gut environment e.g. coeliac disease.
- High blood pressure, anaemia, high blood lipids (total cholesterol \>7.5mmol/l), or inflammatory conditions
- Taking medication for anaemia, high blood pressure, high blood lipids , inflammatory conditions or depression
- Food allergies and intolerances
Other
- Pregnant, lactating, breast feeding or planning a pregnancy within the next 6 months
- Lost more than 3kg of body weight in the last 6 months
Who the study is looking for
- Participants aged 18 to 65 years old
- Regular consumer of cheese
- In generally good health but with total cholesterol level between 5-7.5 mmol/l and body mass index (BMI) between 18-32 kg/m2 at screening visit
- Willing and able to comply with study instructions
Age in the registry: 18 years to 65 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Reading, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Reading | United Kingdom | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.