Effect of Watermelon on Gut and Cardiometabolic Health

Florida State University36 enrolled

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of daily fresh watermelon consumption for 6-weeks on gut health, including microbiome diversity, gut barrier and immune function in young adults with overweight and obesity. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Will consuming fresh watermelon daily for 6-weeks will improve intestinal barrier health and increase microbiome diversity such as an increased population of beneficial 'probiotic' bacteria when compared to control participants consuming a low-fat snack? 2. Will consuming fresh watermelon daily for six-weeks will improve other health measures, including body-composition, blood pressure, blood vessel function, blood lipid profiles, and measures of inflammation, as compared to control participants consuming a low-fat snack for the same time period?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Obesity and Overweight Dysbiosis

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 30 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Between 18 and 30 years old * Ability to speak and read in English * Overweight or Obese Class 1 and 2 (BMI ≥ 25 - 39.9 kg/m2) Exclusion Criteria: * Intake of antibiotics in the last 3 months * Intake of pre/pro/postbiotics in the last 3 months * Current or past (within the last 6 months) user of tobacco, marijuana, or E-cigarette products * Cardiovascular disease (will not exclude for hypertension), gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis, celiac, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, peptic ulcers, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, short bowel syndrome), neurological (multiple sclerosis, meningitis, recent stroke) or endocrine disorders (uncontrolled thyroid disorders, growth hormone disorders, adrenal gland disorders, uncontrolled diabetes - A1C greater than 9%). * Food allergy to study foods * Any allergy to melon * Any allergy to the isocaloric snack (gluten) * Regular consumption of watermelon greater than 2 servings / week * Current heavy alcohol use (≥ 15 drinks / week for men, ≥ 8 drinks / week for women * Class 3 Obesity (BMI \&amp;gt; 40 kg/m2) * Current user of Citrulline, Arginine, Nitric Oxide or other supplements known to affect nitric oxide synthesis (beet root juice or any beet supplement, Pycnogenol / Pine bark extract) * Known to be currently pregnant (self-disclosed)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Gut Microbiome Diversity

Collected fecal samples will be used to determine microbiome profiles, including diversity and composition of bacteria.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Oral Microbiome Diversity

Oral swab samples are collected to determine oral diversity and composition of bacteria in the mouth before and after intervention.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Gut Transit Time

Evaluate changes in gut transit time after watermelon or control snack consumption from baseline to final analysis, using a blue-dye capsule.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Arterial Stiffness

Evaluate the effects of watermelon on arterial stiffness, determined by measuring Pulse Wave Analysis (PWA) and Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV). These are captured by the SphygmoCor XCEL System through the descending aorta to the femoral artery. The aortic pulse wave velocity is detected from carotid and femoral arterial pulses measured non-invasively and simultaneously

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Endothelial Function

Evaluate the effects of watermelon on macrovascular endothelial function, which will be evaluated using the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) technique using a Finapres device, which measures the arterial dilation response following acute occlusion of the brachial artery.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Ambulatory Blood Pressure

Evaluate the effect of watermelon on ambulatory blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), determined using a 12-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor (TM-2440). The 12-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor will collect blood pressure readings every 20 minutes during waking hours only.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Waist and Hip Circumference

Evaluate changes in waist and hip circumference (centimeters), as well as waist-hip ratio at each study visit before, after and during watermelon consumption.

Time frame: Screening, Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Body Composition

Evaluate changes in body composition, including lean mass (kg), fat mass kg), and total body water (kg). This is assessed using a bioimpedance spectroscopy device (ImpediMed SBF7) at each study visit before, after and during watermelon consumption.

Time frame: Screening, Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Habitual Dietary Intake

Assess changes in habitual dietary intake via 3-day food logs, analyzed using nutrient analysis software.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Biomarkers of Inflammation

Relevant biomarkers are to be collected via venous blood samples to determine changes in inflammation, including but not limited to C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1 (Interleukin-1), IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-23, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-a), Interferon-gamma (IFN-Y). All will be expressed in units of pg/mL.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Biomarkers of Appetite

Relevant biomarkers are to be collected via venous blood samples to determine changes in appetite including Insulin, Glucagon, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), Adiponectin, Leptin, Ghrelin, and Peptide YY. All will be expressed in units of pg/mL.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Biomarkers of Intestinal Barrier Function

Relevant biomarkers are to be collected via venous blood samples to determine changes in intestinal barrier function including LPS (lipopolysaccharides), LBP (lipopolysaccharide binding protein), CD14, Secretory IgA. All will be expressed in units of pg/mL.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Biomarkers of Cardiometabolic Health

Relevant biomarkers are to be collected via venous blood samples to determine changes in cardiometabolic health including HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. All will be expressed in units of mg/dL.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Recent Dietary Intake

Assess changes in dietary intake via 24 hr recalls, analyzed using nutrient analysis software.

Time frame: Screening, Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Body Weight

Evaluate changes in body weight (kg) at each study visit before, after and during watermelon consumption.

Time frame: Screening, Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Change in Body Mass Index

Evaluate changes in Body Mass Index (kg/m2) before, during and after consumption of watermelon.

Time frame: Baseline (day 0), Visit 2 (week 6), Visit 3 (week 10), Visit 4 (week 16).

Effect of Watermelon on Gut and Cardiometabolic Health

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes

Central Contacts