Discrimination and the Brain-Gut-Microbiome (BGM) Axis

Exclusion Criteria

• •Co-Morbidities including but not limited to:
• •Type I diabetes (insulin dependent)
• •Vascular disease
• •Drastic weight loss (more than 10lbs over the preceding 2months)
• •Frequent Strenuous exercise (i.e. marathon runners/heavy weight lifting)
• •Abdominal surgeries including weight loss surgery, or partial/complete resection of the stomach or bowel
• •Untreated thyroid disease
• •Neurological disease
• •Major medical condition that may put the subject at risk or interfere with data collection as determined by the PI/MD
• •Chronic pain
• •Diagnosed DSM IV active psychiatric illness including eating disorders. Must not be active or present for at least 2 years.
• •Use of medications known to affect hunger, satiety, and/or appetite.
• •Unable to safely participate in the MRI (claustrophobia, presence of devices affected by MRI such as pacemakers, neurostimulators, or any metallic foreign body, etc.)
• •Pregnant, lactating, postpartum less than 6mo
• •Women of childbearing age who are not practicing birth control or are planning to get pregnant during the study.
• •Body weight at enrollment greater than 400lbs due to weight restrictions on the MRI table
• •Use of oral/IV antibiotics within the last 3 months
• •Use of probiotics in the last month
• •Heavy use of tobacco, alcohol, and/or drug use/abuse
• •Significant change in usual diet and/or weight loss of more than 10lbs in the last 2months
• •Refugees or recent immigration of less than 2 years in the USA.
• •Temporary workers/visitors/students
• •Recent international travel if more than 3 weeks within the last 3 months.
• •Use of the following medications is exclusionary:
• •Opiates/narcotics
• •Chronic daily use of high dose OTC analgesics
• •Anti-seizure medications
• •Medications for appetite suppression
• •Chronic use of laxatives/antidiarrheals, medications affecting GI motility
• •Insulin
• •Bile Acid Sequestrants
• •Centrally acting medications that will interfere with the neuroimaging testing
• •Thyroid replacement medications (OK if stable for at least 3mo)
• •Heavy use of tobacco/cannabis
• •Heavy use of alcohol ( \>7/week for women)
• •Antidepressants (5HT3's/Tricyclics) (OK if stable for at least 3mo)