NCT07073781

Probiotic Impact on Cognitive Performance, and Metabolic Outcomes in Overweight Young Adults With Impaired Glucose Regulation

A Double-blind Placebo-controlled Exploratory Trial to Assess the Impact of Daily Lab4P Probiotic Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Metabolic Regulation in Overweight Young Adults With Impaired Glucose Regulation

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 70 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Leeds Beckett University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 40 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will examine whether daily supplementation with the Lab4P probiotic can improve cognitive performance and metabolic health in overweight adults aged 18 to 40 with impaired glucose tolerance, a preclinical condition where blood glucose regulation is mildly disrupted. Seventy participants will be randomly assigned to receive either Lab4P or a placebo. The study will assess changes in memory, executive function, and processing speed, along with blood glucose control, cardiovascular function, cholesterol levels, body composition, and markers of inflammation. The study will also analyse changes in the gut microbiome and evaluate the safety and tolerability of the probiotic.

Detailed description

Global rates of Overweight and obesity are rising at unprecedented levels, contributing to increased metabolic disturbances such as impaired glucose metabolism. Disruptions in glucose regulation are both characteristic of and contributory to the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes (T2D). Clinical perturbations in glucose homeostasis are strongly associated with cognitive impairments, and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Increasing evidence suggests that even slightly impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) may contribute to cognitive decline. Emerging evidence shows that cognitive impairments, including memory, executive function, and visuomotor deficits, can be observed in young adults with impaired glucose metabolism, alongside early markers of structural and functional brain changes. Neuroimaging studies have revealed reduced white matter integrity and decreased cerebral glucose metabolism in prediabetic individuals aged 22-35, particularly in brain regions associated with attention, self-regulation, and working memory. These neurocognitive effects appear to be driven by early neurovascular unit (NVU) dysfunction, involving elevated blood glucose, insulin resistance (IR), endothelial damage, and inflammation. Exaggerated glucose excursions promote oxidative stress and impair endothelial function at the blood brain barrier, disrupting cerebral blood flow (CBF), glucose transport and metabolic homeostasis. Functional uncoupling between CBF and regional cerebral glucose metabolism has been directly observed in young adults with IR. Together, these findings suggest that NVU dysfunction may underlie early cognitive decline in young adults with IGM, and that this population represents a critical target for early, non-pharmacological intervention. Probiotic formulations, including the probiotic consortium Lab4P, have shown promise in improving metabolic markers and reducing inflammation, with preclinical data suggesting potential cognitive and neuroprotective benefits. However, its procognitive effects in humans remain unexplored. This trial will evaluate whether Lab4P supplementation can enhance cognitive performance, and cardiometabolic regulation in overweight young adults with IGM. By targeting a modifiable risk state early in life, the study aims to determine whether probiotic supplementation can serve as a viable strategy to mitigate long term neurocognitive and metabolic decline.

Conditions

• Impaired Glucose Regulation
• Impaired Glucose Tolerance (Prediabetes)
• Prediabetes (Insulin Resistance, Impaired Glucose Tolerance)
• Overweight (BMI > 25)
• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Neurovascular Coupling Mechanism and Cognitive Function

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT	Lab4p Probiotic Consortium	The investigational product in this study is Lab4P, a patented multi-strain probiotic consortium formulated as a food supplement and supplied in capsule form. Each daily dose contains a total of 5 × 10¹⁰ CFU of live bacteria, comprising five strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus CUL60 and CUL21, Lactobacillus plantarum CUL66, Bifidobacterium bifidum CUL20, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CUL34. In addition to probiotics, each capsule also contains three micronutrients at 100-200% of the recommended daily intake: Vitamin D (10 µg; 200%), Vitamin C (80 mg; 100%), and Zinc (10 mg; 100%). Lab4P is a marketed, human-approved product manufactured by Cultech Ltd. (Port Talbot, UK) and is classified as a food supplement, available for purchase without prescription. Both the active product and placebo will be identically packaged to maintain blinding.
OTHER	Placebo	Placebo capsules are composed of microcrystalline cellulose, and are identical in appearance to the test product.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-15
• Primary completion: 2026-06-30
• Completion: 2026-08-20
• First posted: 2025-07-18
• Last updated: 2026-03-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom