Microgreen Consumption for Healthy Aging

Colorado State University26 enrolled

Overview

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.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Aging Menopause Healthy

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 45 YearsMax age: 70 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of participants retained

The number of participants retained versus lost to follow-up throughout the entire study

Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks

Adherence to the intervention

Adherence will be determined for each 2-week microgreen intervention through a daily microgreen consumption log