Effects of Phytonutrients on Vascular Health (PomPAT)

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cardiovascular Diseases

Treatments: Dietary Supplement: Pomegranate Juice; Dietary Supplement: Pomegranate extract; Other: Water

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02605850

IRB#15-001605

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will determine the effects of beneficial compounds of plant foods, such as pomegranate on cardiovascular health. This will be tested by asking healthy males to eat a high fat ground beef patty with pomegranate juice (PJ), pomegranate extract (PomX) or water and then measuring blood vessel dilation (endothelial function) by blood flow We also will measure the amount of Nitric Oxide (NO) in your blood and urine samples and sugar and insulin in blood. Healthy men have been chosen for this study because eating high fat hamburger patties can easily mimic in them the condition that causes atherosclerosis. The results from this study may help to explain how high fat foods can be harmful to the body and how beneficial plant foods can have on cardiovascular function

Full description

A. Specific Aims and Objectives

1. Peripheral arterial reactivity by tonometry after a high fat meal with pomegranate consumption
2. To measure nitric oxide and insulin response after a high fat meal and pomegranate consumption These studies will lead to a better understanding of the role of bioactive substances from plant foods such as the pomegranate may demonstrate the importance of plant-based nutrients on cardiovascular health.

B. Background Polyphenols belong to the largest group of secondary metabolites produced by plants, mainly, in response to biotic or abiotic stresses such as infections, wounding, UV irradiation, exposure to ozone, pollutants, and other hostile environmental conditions. It is thought that the molecular basis for the protective action of polyphenols in plants is their antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is grown commercially in the Near East, India, Spain, Israel and the United States (California) where it is of significant economic importance. Pomegranate fruits and products, including juice, tea, wine and extracts are widely consumed and recognized for their health benefits. Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit possesses strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties.

High-calorie meals rich in saturated fat can lead to transient exaggerated elevations in blood glucose, free fatty acids, and triglycerides. This condition, termed postprandial dysmetabolism, generates excess free radicals (or reactive oxygen species). The ensuing oxidative stress triggers a biochemical cascade throughout the circulation, inducing inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. These postprandial changes, when repeated multiple times each day, can create a milieu conducive for the development of atherosclerotic risk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD).

In order to investigate the impact of pomegranate polyphenols on postprandial flow-mediated dilation, nitric oxide, glucose, insulin, triglycerides levels in men, we propose to achieve the following specific aims using a randomized study design:

1. Peripheral arterial reactivity by tonometry after a high fat meal with pomegranate consumption
2. To measure nitric oxide and insulin response after a high fat meal and pomegranate consumption

Enrollment: 32 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 - 35 years old males (inclusive)
• Non-smokers
• Must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds
• Willing to maintain normal activity and eating patterns for the duration of the study
• Willing to maintain their normal diet for the duration of the study but avoid pomegranate products and ellagitannin rich foods.

Exclusion criteria

• Any chronic medical conditions
• Abnormal liver function (AST and ALT > 2 x upper limit)
• Currently taking steroidal drugs
• Cancer treated within the past two years
• Participation in a therapeutic research study within 30 days of baseline
• Use of antibiotics within one month
• Regular use of probiotics
• Allergy or sensitivity to pomegranate products
• Follow a vegetarian diet
• Known HIV positive

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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32 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

Ground beef patty + Water

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

32 healthy subjects, ages 18-35 years who meet all the eligibility criteria in the screening phase of the study will receive the ground beef patty + water to evaluate the clinical efficacy of pomegranate on vascular health.Then subjects will be randomized to consume pomegranate juice or extract. At visit 2, subjects will be tested before and after meal with pomegranate juice or extract, then take pomegranate product daily for 4 weeks. At visit 3, subjects will tested before and after test meal with pomegranate products.

Treatment:

Other: Water

Ground beef patty + Pomegranate Extract

Active Comparator group

Description:

32 healthy subjects, ages 18-35 years who meet all the eligibility criteria in the screening phase of the study will receive the ground beef patty + water to evaluate the clinical efficacy of pomegranate on vascular health.Then subjects will be randomized to consume pomegranate juice or extract. At visit 2, subjects will be tested before and after meal with pomegranate juice or extract, then take pomegranate product daily for 4 weeks. At visit 3, subjects will tested before and after test meal with pomegranate products.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Pomegranate extract

Ground beef patty + Pomegranate Juice

Active Comparator group

Description:

32 healthy subjects, ages 18-35 years who meet all the eligibility criteria in the screening phase of the study will receive the ground beef patty + water to evaluate the clinical efficacy of pomegranate on vascular health.Then subjects will be randomized to consume pomegranate juice or extract. At visit 2, subjects will be tested before and after meal with pomegranate juice or extract, then take pomegranate product daily for 4 weeks. At visit 3, subjects will tested before and after test meal with pomegranate products.

Treatment:

Dietary Supplement: Pomegranate Juice