Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Disease
Conditions
Keywords
dietary fat, fat intake, blood pressure, women, phytoestrogen, pumpkin seeds, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, secoisolariciresinol, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, feeding study
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine if the inclusion of 1.5 ounces of pumpkin seeds per day in the diet of women will alter dietary fatty acid intake or blood pressure.
Detailed description
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality in United States. Diets high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids have been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Oil extracted from pumpkin seeds has been shown to lower blood pressure. One purpose of this study is to determine whether eating 1.5 ounces of pumpkin seeds per day will improve polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acid intake in the diet in healthy adult women. Another purpose of this study is to determine whether eating 1.5 ounces of pumpkin seeds a day will lower blood pressure.
Interventions
OTHERPumpkin Seeds
Participants will be asked to consume 1.5 ounces of raw, unsalted pumpkin seeds per day. The 1.5 ounces will be split in to two servings (each 0.75 ounces).
Sponsors
Texas Woman's University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female * Over the age of 18 * Able to read, write, and speak English * Able to keep a three-day diet diary * Willing and able to consume pumpkin seeds
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnant or planning to become pregnant * Allergic to pumpkin seeds * High blood pressure * Regularly consuming pumpkin seeds (more than 4 times per month) * Taking blood pressure medication * Liver disease * Kidney disease * Gastrointestinal disease * History of bariatric surgery * History of a major cardiovascular event * Heart disease * Currently undergoing cancer treatment (except nonmelanoma cancer) * Following a weight control diet * Following a disease specific diet * Following a vegan diet * Have a diagnosed eating disorder
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary fatty acid intake | 12 weeks | The dietary fatty acid intake, specifically monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, will be measured three times over the course of a twelve week period to determine if fatty acid intake changed during the intervention. |
| Blood pressure | 12 weeks | Blood pressure will be measured at every meeting to determine if the addition of pumpkin seeds to the diet altered blood pressure. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed