Microbiome Targeted Oral Butyrate Therapy in Gulf War Multisymptom Illness
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
The primary objective of this clinical trial is to determine if treatment with Butyrate formulation that consists of butyric acid as calcium and magnesium derivatives (Ca-Mg Butyrate) improves the physical function of men and women Veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness (GWI). The primary outcome measure is a change from baseline on the Short Form Health Survey 36-item (VSF-36), with respect to physical functioning and symptoms. The secondary outcome will focus on the drug's role in (a) restoring gut microbiome and virome, (b) decreasing gastrointestinal disturbances (constipation, diarrhea, pain), (c) decreasing chronic fatigue, (d) decreasing systemic inflammation, and (e) a decrease in cognitive deficits.
Description
Nearly one third of 700,000 military personnel deployed during Desert Shield and Desert Storm (Aug 2, 1990 to July 31, 1991) in the Kuwaiti War Theater are suffering from Gulf War Illness (GWI), an unexplained chronic illness characterized by multiple symptoms. The illness has taken a heavy toll on deployed Veterans' overall quality of life. Recent research has revealed the host gut microbiome's role in gastrointestinal disturbance, systemic inflammation, and neurotrophic abnormalities in Gulf War Illness mouse models. Also, short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate restored a healthy microbiom…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 40–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Gulf war era veteran deployed 40 and 70 years old, in good health by medical history prior to 1990 meeting GWI case definition of CDC and Kansas criteria and * currently have no exclusionary diagnoses (self- reported) that could reasonably explain the symptoms of their fatiguing illness. The severity of illness is moderate to severe, scoring less than 30 of 100 on the physical domain of VSF36 . Exclusion Criteria: * Untreated schizophrenia, * Untreated bipolar disorder, * Untreated delusional disorders, * Untreated dementias of any type and * active alcoholism or drug…
Interventions
- DrugCal-Mag Butyrate
Supplements
- DrugPlacebo
Only Cal-Mag but no Butyric acid
Locations (3)
- VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CALong Beach, California
- Miami VA Healthcare System, Miami, FLMiami, Florida
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UTSalt Lake City, Utah