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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
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).
Texas Woman's University
Houston, Texas, United States
Dietary fatty acid intake
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.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Blood pressure
Blood pressure will be measured at every meeting to determine if the addition of pumpkin seeds to the diet altered blood pressure.
Time frame: 12 weeks
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