Aging, Healthy, Menopause
Conditions
Brief summary
Microgreens are an emerging horticultural food crop with potential to improve human health. Previous research suggests they have broad consumer acceptance and that the micronutrient and bioactive compound levels are higher than that of their mature counterparts. To date, no studies have explored the feasibility of microgreen consumption, gastrointestinal tolerance of microgreen consumption, or their potential health impacts in humans. Therefore, the overall goal of this study is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of daily microgreen consumption, gastrointestinal tolerability, and potential health impacts of red cabbage and red beet microgreens in healthy middle-aged/older men and postmenopausal women - a population inherently at risk for chronic disease, e.g. cardiovascular disease.
Interventions
OTHERRed cabbage microgreens
2 cups per day
OTHERRed beet microgreens
2 cups per day
Sponsors
Colorado State University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male or postmenopausal * Aged 45-70
Exclusion criteria
* Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, neuropathy, thrombosis, cancer, gastrointestinal, kidney, liver, lung, or pancreatic disease * Taking medication for high cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood sugar, or are taking testosterone medications * Blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mm Hg, triglyceride levels \> 200 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels ≥ 160 mg/dL, total cholesterol levels ≥ 240 mg/dL, and/or hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5% * Weight change ≥ 3 kg (6.6 lb.) in the past 3 months prior to starting the study, are actively trying to lose weight, or are unwilling to remain weight stable throughout the study * Have a BMI less than 18.5 or greater than 30 kg/m2 * Are not willing to maintain normal eating/drinking and exercise habits over the duration of the study * Currently smoke cigarettes or have a history of smoking cigarettes in the past 12 months * Taking antibiotics or have taken them within one month of starting the study * Binge and/or heavy drinker (\>4 drinks on any given occasion and/or \>14 drinks/week for men) * Have allergies or contraindication to study foods, procedures, or procedure supplies
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adherence to the intervention | Baseline to 2 weeks | Adherence will be determined for each 2-week microgreen intervention through a daily microgreen consumption log |
| Number of participants retained | Baseline to 6 weeks | The number of participants retained versus lost to follow-up throughout the entire study |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gastrointestinal health | Baseline to 2 weeks | Determine the effects on gastrointestinal health using a daily bowel movement log for each 2-week microgreen intervention |
| Blood pressure | Baseline to 2 weeks | Determine the effects on brachial and aortic blood pressure measured by SphygmoCor for each 2-week microgreen intervention |
| Microbiota modulation | Baseline to 2 weeks | Use of 16s rRNA sequencing of stool samples to determine the effects of each 2-week microgreen intervention on microbial populations |
| Acceptability | 2-week visit | Determine acceptability and feasibility of daily microgreen consumption through qualitative interviews with study participants at completion of the 2-week study |
| Augmentation index | Baseline to 2 weeks | Determine the effects on augmentation index measured by SphygmoCor for each 2-week microgreen intervention |
| Gastrointestinal symptom self-assessment | Baseline to 2 weeks | Determine the effects on gastrointestinal symptoms using a validated questionnaire for each 2-week microgreen intervention |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in plasma metabolites | Baseline to 2 weeks | Use of mass spectrometry to determine the effects on plasma metabolites of bioactive compounds for each 2-week microgreen intervention |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed