If you haven't heard of kefir yet, it's a probiotic beverage that's supposed to be good for your gut. But according to Southern Cross Univerisity researchers, little is known about the effects of Kefir on the microbiome, the collective bacteria in the mouth and gut.

So now, they are conducting a clinical trial and looking for locals who want to take part in the kefir experiment.

Lead researcher, Associate Professor Romy Lauche said the trail will examine whether the consumption of Kefir can influence the microbiome.

Kefir is a probiotic dairy beverage that has been consumed for over 2,000 years in the Caucasus region at the border of Europe and Asia.

Traditional Kefir is made by taking milk and adding Kefir ‘grains’ which contain a range of symbiotic bacteria and yeast species.

"Many claims have been made regarding the health benefits of Kefir, however little is known about the effects of Kefir on the microbiome, the collective bacteria in the mouth and gut," Ass Prof Lauche said.

The team are seeking healthy adults with a Body Mass Index between 18.5 and 30 kg/m2, who have no acute or chronic disease.

Participants will be required to consume Kefir two times per day for two weeks.

Those with gastrointestinal conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease, Celiac disease, lactose intolerance, or dairy allergy, plus those already using fermented foods for health purposes, will not able to participate.

At the beginning of the study, after two weeks of using Kefir, and after another two weeks without Kefir, participants will be asked to fill out questionnaires, and provide oral and stool samples.

These samples will be analysed at the Microbiome Research Centre at the University of New South Wales in Sydney.

Due to COVID restrictions, the University is trialling a contactless study approach, whereby a collection site for the study products and samples will be set up at Southern Cross University’s Lismore campus. All other processes will be conducted remotely, via phone and online.

This clinical trial has been approved by the Southern Cross University Human Research Ethics Committee, #2021/129, and by the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee, #2021/RL00200.

For more information about the clinical trial or to check if you are eligible to participate, email ncnmtrials@scu.edu.au, or call 02 6626 9255.