Scientists use labeled wheat bran to uncover gut secrets

NCT ID NCT03717311

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This pilot study gave 6 healthy women a breakfast containing wheat bran with a special carbon label (13C) to track how it is fermented in the gut. Over 24 hours, researchers collected breath, urine, blood, and stool samples to measure breakdown products. The goal is to identify new biomarkers that reflect fiber digestion, which could lead to better dietary advice in the future.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
13C-enriched wheat bran
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help develop simple tests to measure how well people digest fiber, improving dietary recommendations.
What could go wrong
This is a very small pilot study with only 6 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. It is designed to find markers, not to test a treatment.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine Rhône-Alpes

    Pierre-Bénite, France

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