Cure8 trial brief
If gut microbes produce LPC/LPA that are linked to chronic abdominal pain, it could point to new biomarker or microbiome-targeted approaches for unexplained pain in IBD patients whose inflammation is quiet or minimal.
Adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who have persistent abdominal pain despite remission, gastroenterologists and IBD clinicians, and researchers studying the microbiome and pain biomarkers.
The study will enroll adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who report moderate-to-severe chronic abdominal pain that persists during remission or with only mild inflammation. Participants provide daily first-morning stool and urine samples and daily pain scores for three weeks; stool LPC/LPA will be measured and correlated with symptoms.
The study aims both to track LPC/LPA levels over time and to identify bacterial species responsible for producing these lipids. Exclusion criteria include recent antibiotics, probiotics, opioid/NSAID use, and current acid-suppressing medications.
Practical takeaway: This is an exploratory, small (n=15) longitudinal observational study at McMaster University designed to generate hypotheses about microbiome-derived lipid mediators and pain — it is not testing a treatment.
This is a small, single-site exploratory observational study with planned enrollment of 15 participants and a 3-week sampling period. As a registry record, it describes planned measurements and design but does not report results.
Review the original publication for the complete reporting, methods, and context.
This Cure8 brief is based on source text from the linked article. Cure8 is informational only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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