The Effect of Tea Breaks on Cerebrovascular Perfusion During Desk Work

Unilever

Status: Completed

Conditions: Affect; Cerebrovascular Circulation

Treatments: Other: Water; Other: Tea

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT03953391

REF-BEV-3235

Details and patient eligibility

About

Sedentary behaviour of healthy subjects may have a detrimental impact on cerebral blood flow as well as cognitive measures related to mood and alertness. In this study we focus on the impact of leaving the desk to consume a cup of tea at regular intervals during a sedentary working day.

Full description

Prolonged desk work has detrimental impact on cerebral blood flow as well as cognitive measures related to mood and alertness caused. These effects might be prevented by taking short breaks with physical activity. Usually, desk workers have short breaks during office times for either a visit to the restroom or to enjoy for a moment a (hot) drink. Consumption of tea has been associated with benefits related to attention, alertness, mood and creativity. This study focuses on the impact of physically leaving the desk to prepare and consume a cup of tea at regular intervals during a sedentary working day.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Healthy males and females, age at screening > 18 and < 60 years;
• BMI > 18 and < 30 kg/m2
• Apparently healthy
• Agreeing to be informed about medically relevant personal test-results by a physician
• Informed consent signed
• Sedentary working individuals (≥6 hours desk work per day, ≥4 days per week)

Exclusion criteria

• Reported physical exercise ≥4 hours per week
• Taking medication (including food supplements and traditional medicines) which may interfere with study measurements, as judged by the PI
• Reported participation in another nutritional or biomedical trial (involving an intervention of at least 1 week) 3 months before the screening or during the study
• Reported participation in night shift work 2 weeks prior to screening or during the study. Night work is defined as working between midnight and 6.00 a.m.
• Reported consumption of > 14 units (female subjects) and > 21 units (male subjects) alcoholic drinks in a typical week.
• Reported use of any nicotine containing products in the 6 months preceding the study and during the study itself.
• If female, is pregnant (or has been pregnant during the last < 3 months ago) or will be planning pregnancy during the study period.
• If female, is lactating or has been lactating in the 6 weeks before screening and/or during the study period.
• Reported weight loss/gain (> 10%) in the last 6 months before the study.
• Being an employee of Unilever or an employee or a student working in RISES LJMU that is directly involved in this study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Tea-water

Experimental group

Description:

Tea before water

Treatment:

Other: Tea

Other: Water

Water-tea

Experimental group

Description:

Water before tea

Treatment:

Other: Tea

Other: Water