How Seasons Affect Kidney Health in Post-Menopausal Females

Florida State University18 enrolled

Overview

The investigators are assessing how seasonal changes affect kidney function biomarkers in post-menopausal women, an understudied group. While heat stress can reduce kidney function, previous research has not accounted for physical activity, diet, hydration, or sun exposure.

Intense heat stress on the body can reduce kidney function. A recent study reported that blood markers of kidney function are lower among people in hotter climates. However, these data did not consider physical activity, food intake, fluid intake, time spent outdoors, or exposure to sunlight. Therefore, the investigators invite participants to help determine whether there are seasonal changes in kidney function biomarkers. This will also help the investigators understand if physical activity, food intake, fluid intake, time spent outdoors, or exposure to sunlight affect kidney function biomarkers between seasons. The investigators are studying female adults post-menopause since they are an understudied group.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Postmenopausal Female

Interventions

There will be no intervention.OTHER

This research focuses on examining seasonal variations in kidney function among postmenopausal females. As an observational study, our approach is non-interventional.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 55 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Female aged ≥55 years old * Self Reported as at least one year post-menopause * Live in Tallahassee, Florida, or the surrounding area Exclusion Criteria: * Have a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 * Systolic blood pressure of ≥140 and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg * Self Reported Current or recent (regular use within the past six months) use of a diuretic medication * Self Reported: Uncontrolled cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, renal, liver, or metabolic health condition * Current or recent (regular use within the past six months) use of tobacco, nicotine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory products * No regular (≥once per week) purposeful heat exposure (e.g., sauna, spa, etc.)

Locations (1)

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)

Changes in NGAL will be measured in blood samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Time frame: Visit 1 (0 months) and Visit 2 (7 months)

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)

Changes in NGAL will be measured in urine samples using radioimmunoassay.

Time frame: Visit 1 (0 months) and Visit 2 (7 months)

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7)*Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2)

The product of Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) will be measured in blood samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Time frame: Visit 1 (0 months) and Visit 2 (7 months)

Secondary Outcomes

estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)

eGFR will be calculated from creatinine using CKD-EPI equation.

Time frame: Visit 1 (0 months) and Visit 2 (7 months)

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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