Wild Blueberries and Cardiovascular Health in Middle-aged/Older Men and Postmenopausal Women

Launched by COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY · Aug 25, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the effects of wild blueberries on heart health in middle-aged and older men who have elevated blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension. The researchers want to see if eating blueberries can help improve blood pressure and the health of the blood vessels, which can get stiff and less efficient as we age. Since many people in the U.S. have high blood pressure, finding natural ways to improve heart health is really important.

To participate, you need to be a man or a postmenopausal woman between the ages of 45 and 70 who has elevated blood pressure. You’ll also need to be able to give informed consent, meaning you understand what the study involves. However, if you have certain health conditions, like heart disease or cancer, or if you're taking multiple blood pressure medications, you may not be eligible. If you join the study, you can expect to consume blueberries and have your blood pressure and blood vessel health monitored over time. This trial is currently recruiting, so if you think you might be interested, it could be a great opportunity to contribute to important heart health research!

Gender

MALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Men and postmenopausal women
• • Aged 45-70 years
• • Elevated blood pressure or stage 1-Hypertension
• • Ability to provide informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Have had a menstrual cycle within the past year
• • Blood Pressure \< 120 (systolic BP) or ≥ 140/90 mm Hg
• • Reactive hyperemia index \> 3.00%
• • Taking \> 1 antihypertensive medication, taking 1 antihypertensive medication more than 1 time per day, and/or taking the antihypertensive medication for \< 3 months
• • Diagnosed cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or gastrointestinal, kidney, liver, lung, and/or pancreatic disease
• • Triglycerides \> 350 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 190 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%, and/or taking a lipid-lowering or glucose-lowering medication
• • Testosterone or estrogen replacement therapy use 6 months prior to study start
• • Weight change ≥ 3 kg in the past 3 months, actively trying to lose weight, or unwilling to remain weight stable throughout the study
• • Current smokers or history of smoking in the past 12 months
• • Binge and/or heavy drinker (\>3 drinks on any given occasion and/or \>7 drinks/week for women, and \>4 drinks on any given occasion and/or \>14 drinks/week for men)
• • Body mass index \< 18.5 or \> 40 kg/m2
• • Antibiotic therapy within past two months
• • Allergies or contraindication to study treatments or procedures