Impact of Gut Microbiome on Metabolic and Bowel Function During the First Year After Spinal Cord Injury
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Summary
The Investigators will recruit 35 participants with acute SCI (within 6 weeks of injury) Fasting blood collection and bowel function survey will be conducted 3 times: at baseline \[within 6 weeks of injury\], 6, and 12 months after SCI. Stool will be collected for gut microbiome analysis 3 times.
Description
Stool and fasting blood collection will occur at the rehabilitation hospital (during in-patient stay) and at participants' homes. During the hospital stay, stool will be collected at the bedside by the research team and placed in a Para-pak® vial for sample preservation. Blood will also be collected by the research team. For sample collection at home, a research nurse will travel to participants home to perform blood draws and bing back to the research lab for processing/analysis/storage. The nurse may also collect the stool sample at the same time as the blood draw if available. If not, par…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–85 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18-85 years of age 2. diagnosis of traumatic SCI at the cervical to lumbar level (C3-L2) 3. classification of A, B, C (motor complete, incomplete). Exclusion Criteria: 1. Women who are pregnant prior to consent 2. neurological impairment other than SCI 3. self-reported history of Crohn's disease or diverticulitis 4. irritable bowel syndrome 5. gastric blockage/obstruction or swallowing disorder 6. prior GI surgery 7. intrathecal pump 8. concurrent usage of functional electrical stimulation for bowel management (e.g., constipation). 9. able to ambulate
Location
- The University of Alabama at BirmingahmBirmingham, Alabama