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Assessing the Presence of Casomorphins in Human Plasma After Dairy Ingestion

This study has been completed.
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00360919
First received: August 3, 2006
Last updated: August 6, 2012
Last verified: August 2012
History of Changes
  Purpose

This purpose of this study is to perform a pilot investigation to determine if opioid peptides such as casomorphin can be detected in human plasma after cheese ingestion.


Condition Intervention Phase
Food Habits
 Behavioral: cheese ingestion
 Phase 0

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Open Label
Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Official Title: Assessing the Presence of Casomorphins in Human Plasma After Dairy Ingestion

Further study details as provided by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • casomorphin quantification [ Time Frame: Measurements will be collected on designated studys within 12-hour time frame ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Enrollment: 28
Study Start Date: September 2006
Study Completion Date: December 2010
Primary Completion Date: December 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Experimental: A
Cheese
 Behavioral: cheese ingestion

On study day 1, approximately half of the participants will consume a breakfast of fruits and vegetables, whereas the other half of participants will consume a meal consisting of 9 oz. of cheese.

Blood samples will be collected from participants immediately prior to consumption of the meals, and then again at regular intervals for up to 8 hours following the meals.

At least 3 days later, participants will return for study Day 2. The participants will receive the second meal. Blood samples will then be collected immediately prior to consumption of the test meal and for up to 8 hours after the meal.
Placebo Comparator: B
Fruits and vegetables
 Behavioral: cheese ingestion

On study day 1, approximately half of the participants will consume a breakfast of fruits and vegetables, whereas the other half of participants will consume a meal consisting of 9 oz. of cheese.

Blood samples will be collected from participants immediately prior to consumption of the meals, and then again at regular intervals for up to 8 hours following the meals.

At least 3 days later, participants will return for study Day 2. The participants will receive the second meal. Blood samples will then be collected immediately prior to consumption of the test meal and for up to 8 hours after the meal.

Detailed Description:

Cheese is one of the most commonly craved foods, suggesting the possibility of opiate activity, as has been demonstrated with other craved foods, particularly chocolate. Like other dairy products, cheese contains casein, which is the major protein in cow's milk. This is unlike human milk, in which the primary protein is whey. Casein includes αs1-, αs2-, β- , and κ-casein, with αs1 and β forms predominating. Human and bovine casein molecules are cleaved during digestion to release opioid peptides that are believed to have biological properties relevant to infant physiology and behavior. Specifically, β-casein is cleaved to form β-casomorphins. Like other opiate agonists, β-casomorphins prolong gastrointestinal transit time and have an antidiarrheal effect.

Casomorphin receptor binding has been demonstrated in opiate receptor assays and bioassays. Duodenal aspirates from human volunteers given cow's milk have demonstrated the presence of several casomorphins, particularly β-casomorphin-7. Few studies have assessed the presence or action of casomorphins in humans. The ability of casein-derived opioid peptides to pass into the bloodstream is not well characterized, and is the subject of the present study.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age greater than 18 years
  • Male or female
  • Either self-described as having a strong liking for cheese, or have been following a vegan diet for a least the previous six months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unstable medical status
  • Physical condition affecting eating behavior, digestion, or intestinal absorption
  • Dairy allergy or lactose intolerance
  • Pregnancy
  • History of severe mental illness
  • Smoking during the past six months
  • Alcohol consumption of more than two drinks per day
  • History of substance abuse or dependency followed by any current use
  • Inordinate fear of blood draws
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00360919

Locations
United States, District of Columbia
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Washington, DC, District of Columbia, United States, 20016-4131
Sponsors and Collaborators
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Neal Barnard, MD Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Study Director: Hope R Ferdowsian, MD, MPH Washington Center for Clinical Research
  More Information

Additional Information:
Related Info  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Publications:

Responsible Party: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00360919     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: WCCR-01
Study First Received: August 3, 2006
Last Updated: August 6, 2012
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine:
casomorphin
cheese
craving
casein
milk

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Food Habits
Habits

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 22, 2013