Dietary Effects on Immune Function, Metabolism, and Disease Activity in Early-Stage Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating whether a short-term, 4-week whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet affects metabolism, immune function, and disease activity in people with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have not yet received treatment. The study aims to understand if this diet influences disease progression and how CLL cells and other immune cells respond in terms of metabolism and signaling. Participants will follow a WFPB diet that excludes processed foods, animal products, sugar-sweetened, and alcoholic beverages. They will receive personalized nutrition counseling from a certified instructor and be encouraged to eat without quantity restrictions. The study includes three visits: before starting the diet, after 14 days, and after 28 days. At each visit, blood and stool samples will be collected, and body composition will be measured at the beginning and end. Throughout the study, participants will keep a food diary to monitor adherence. Researchers will evaluate changes in lymphocyte counts, immune cell composition, microbiome makeup, metabolism, blood lipids, body weight, and inflammatory markers. The study is exploratory and aims to generate insights into how diet might impact disease biology and systemic metabolism in early-stage CLL.

CLL-IMPACT: A Clinical Nutrition Trial Investigating Immune and Metabolic Changes in Early-Stage CLL