None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
High blood pressure is highly prevalent in Australia and is known as a 'silent disease' as it usually has no symptoms until it might be too late. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that the gut microbiome plays a role in hypertension. The gut microbiome comprises the millions of tiny microorganisms that live in our gut, and can be manipulated through the diet. We have exciting research in our lab that suggests this relationship between gut pH and blood pressure is regulated via changes in inflammation. pH is a measure of acidity from 1-14. The lower the pH, the more acidic that substance is. The higher the pH, the more alkaline and, therefore, less acidic that substance is. We believe that a lower pH in the gut, produced from the substances our gut microbes release, is associated with better control of blood pressure, and that hypertensive patients may have a higher pH than those subjects without high blood pressure. There is no research in humans that have looked at the pH of hypertensive patients specifically. The SmartPill Motility capsule is a device that measures in pH in real time, as the pill travels through the gastrointestinal tract. The Atmo Gas capsule is a device that measures gases, as well as acidic substances as they are absorbed along the gastrointestinal tract. Both of these pills will be utilised in this study. The purpose of this research is to determine the gut pH of hypertensive patients.
Interventions
The overall aim of the study is to determine the contribution of gut pH to blood pressure regulation via changes in inflammation. We will be doing this by comparing the gut pH of healthy controls to hypertensive patients, through the use of Smart Pill and Atmo Gas Capsules. These two pills measure gut pH and gases in real time as they travel through the length of the gastrointestinal tract.
Participants will also provide faecal samples to determine the associated gut microbiome and production
The overall aim of the study is to determine the contribution of gut pH to blood pressure regulation via changes in inflammation. We will be doing this by comparing the gut pH of healthy controls to hypertensive patients, through the use of Smart Pill and Atmo Gas Capsules. These two pills measure gut pH and gases in real time as they travel through the length of the gastrointestinal tract. Participants will also provide faecal samples to determine the associated gut microbiome and production of gut metabolites, as well as blood samples to determine associated immune cells associated with hypertension. Participants will come to the study site (The Alfred Centre) for 2 visits. The first visit is for approximately 1 hour, where they will swallow both the Smart Pill/Gas capsule and given education on how to use/troubleshoot the device while it is in their system. They will be provided with a food diary and explained by a dietitian (study coordinator) on how to complete this food diary appropriately for the study. They will also be provided with patient diaries for the pills, to monitor bowel actions and symptoms for the duration that the pills are in their gastrointestinal tract. The food diary and patient diaries will be completed at home. Participants will be provided with a faecal sample kit and given explanation as to how to appropriately collect and store a faecal sample. A blood sample of ~20ml will be taken from participants on this visit. Participants will be given a 24hr blood pressure monitor to wear which takes blood pressure readings every 15-30 mins for the 24hr period. On the second visit, participants will return the receivers that are supplied with the pills, as well as completed patient diaries and faecal sample. This visit will go for approximately 20-30mins.
Sponsors
Francine Marques
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
• 18-70 years of age • BMI 18.5-30 • Either sex • For hypertensive patients: Hypertension will be defined according to the Australian Heart Foundation guidelines using automated office blood pressure where BP is greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg and 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (AMBP) is greater than or equal to 130/80. Masked hypertensive patients will be included in the hypertensive group (office BP less than or equal to 140/90 mmHg but AMBP is greater than or equal to 130/80) and white coat hypertensives will be included as controls (office BP is greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg but AMBP is less than or equal to 130/80).
Exclusion criteria
• Recent use of antibiotics (<4 week) • Presence of type 1 or type 2 diabetes • Pregnant women • Presence gastrointestinal diseases (including inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis or other malabsorption disorder).
Outcome results
None listed