Micro-vegetables (MV) are seedlings of larger vegetables. They can be grown quickly and are a concentrated source of micronutrients. MV are thought to have broad health benefits, including many inflammatory conditions. These include metabolic, cardiovascular, and cognitive diseases. This could have important implications for the health of an ageing UK population. Less than a third of British adults consume 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day; this is the level that reduces risk of morbidity and mortality. Vegetables, including MV may - at least in part - exert their health effects by changing the level and type of bacteria in the mouth and gut. Despite their promise, the MV scientific literature is not yet extensive enough to support definitive health claims. It requires the addition of high-quality studies that are relevant to humans. This study will firstly investigate the anti-inflammatory effects on skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in older adults, using a proteomics approach. Second, this study will assess concentrations of circulating inflammatory markers in the sera collected from participants at baseline and at the conclusion of a 6-week period. Further, this study will describe the effects of six weeks MV consumption on cognition, and the oral and gut microbiome. As the bioactive compounds in the MV are owed to the potential beneficial effects for human health, these will be characterised in sera collected from participants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
32
The intervention in this study is 6 weeks with a daily proprietary blend micro-vegetables that has been freeze-dried
The intervention in this study is 6 weeks with a placebo supplement
Public Health and Sports Sciences, University of Exeter
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) global proteomics
Characterisation of the proteome - hypothesis free
Time frame: Adipose and skeletal muscle sampling at baseline and 6-week post-intervention
Concentration of broad panel of inflammatory cytokines
Using multiplex immunoassay including but not limited to TNFα, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-1β, MIP1α, Galectin 1, Chemerin, Eotaxin, gp130, MCP-1, IL-7, MIP3α, IL-15, Aggrecan, Resistin, Leptin, MIP1β, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and FABP4
Time frame: Blood sample collected at baseline and 6-week post-intervention
Concentration of circulating bioactive components
Characterisation of bioactive components, including but not limited to polyphenols
Time frame: Blood sample collected at baseline and 6-week post-intervention
Microbiome
Metagenomic sequencing. Exploratory outcome to establish reference data for Shannon H diversity index and Chao1 species richness
Time frame: Faecal and saliva collected at baseline and 6-week post-intervention
Simple Reaction Time
Assessment of alertness and focused attention
Time frame: 5 times throughout the intervention (baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6 and week 8)
Digit Vigilance
Assessment of sustained and intensive attention
Time frame: 5 times throughout the intervention (baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6 and week 8)
Choice Reaction Time
Accompanied with Simple Reaction Time and records additional time taken to execute appropriate response
Time frame: 5 times throughout the intervention (baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6 and week 8)
Pattern Separation
Assessment of ability to store and retrieve visual information
Time frame: 5 times throughout the intervention (baseline, week 2, week 4, week 6 and week 8)
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