Effects of Baobab fruit powder on gut and cardiometabolic health in obesity – a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Baobab fruit powder (BFP) is a commercially available product that has been consumed in Africa for centuries and is known to contain high levels of fibre and vitamin C. Dietary fibre is a key component of a healthy diet and plays a vital role in the protection of the intestinal barrier, for instance by shaping gut bacteria composition and diversity. Increased intestinal permeability allows bacterial products, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), into the systemic circulation inducing chronic low-grade inflammation. Due to the high fibre content of BFP it is likely to affect gut function and we, therefore, hypothesize that regular BFP consumption can affect intestinal permeability and microbiota composition.Aim: Using a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial, we aim to examine the effects of consumption of BFP on intestinal permeability and cardiometabolic risk factors in participants with obesity. To achieve this aim, we will measure the following changes in response to the 45-day BFP intervention compared to the control group:• changes in intestinal permeability using the urinary lactulose/mannitol (Lac/Man) ratio (primary outcome) • changes in blood biomarkers of intestinal permeability (secondary outcomes) • changes in the composition and diversity of gut bacterial profiles (secondary outcome)• changes in cardiometabolic risk markers including anthropometric measurements (such as body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference), blood lipid profiles, fasting glycaemia, insulin resistance, inflammation and blood pressure (secondary outcomes)