Testing Charcoal and Probiotics to Slow Kidney Disease in Diabetes

Plain-English translation of NCT07333313 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated January 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

This study doesn't follow the usual testing phases — it may be an observational study or a different type of research.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a combination of oral activated bamboo charcoal (ABC) and probiotics to see if they can help protect your kidneys and reduce harmful inflammation in people with diabetes. Diabetes can damage the kidneys over time, leading to serious complications, and this study explores whether these supplements might slow that damage. The trial will follow participants for 12 months to measure whether the medication helps preserve kidney function.

About one in four people with diabetes develop kidney disease, which increases the risk of heart problems and other serious complications. Researchers believe that inflammation plays a key role in this damage, and early studies suggest that the treatment may help reduce that inflammation and protect kidney function—but this needs to be tested in a larger group of patients.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 20 years old or older and not pregnant
you have been diagnosed with diabetic kidney disease with stable kidney function over at least 30 days
your kidney function (eGFR) falls within one of four ranges being studied: 45–60, 30–45, 15–30, or below 15 ml/min/1.73m²
your kidney function and protein levels have remained stable for at least the past month

You likely don't qualify if…

you have very early kidney disease (eGFR above 90) or very advanced liver disease
you have severe malnutrition, severe anemia, active bleeding, or recent gastrointestinal surgery
you have chronic constipation or severe digestive problems that cannot be controlled with laxatives
you have taken antibiotics or probiotics in the past 3 months
you have a history of cancer in the past 5 years or a weakened immune system

What participation looks like

If you qualify, you will be randomly assigned to take one of several doses of the activated charcoal supplement with or without probiotics for 12 months. You'll take the medication by mouth, typically multiple times daily, and attend regular follow-up visits where your kidney function and other health markers will be monitored through blood tests. The study involves 300 participants with different stages of kidney disease, allowing researchers to see which approach works best.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 24, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

Taiwan

National Taiwan University Hospital., Taipei, Taiwan

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov