BUTY trial

Major depressive disorder is a serious mental health issue associated with poor mental and physical health. Novel interventions that target the intestinal environment are promising therapeutic candidates due to the involvement of gut-brain signalling in depression. One approach involves oral supplementation with the short-chain fatty acid butyrate.

 

The BUTY study will be the first study to pilot the effects of oral supplementation in 24 patients with major depressive disorder, aged between 18-65 years old. The primary aim is to establish the feasibility and acceptability of this double-blind, parallel, 1:1 randomised placebo-controlled pilot trial. Secondary outcomes include changes in depressive symptoms, anhedonia and affect. Other outcomes include changes in gastrointestinal symptoms, faecal microbiome, metabolites in blood and faeces, inflammation, epigenetics, stress and intestinal permeability.

 

Researchers

Vera Korenblik, v.korenblik@amsterdamumc.nl

Anja Lok, a.lok@amsterdamumc.nl