Associations Between the Microbiome, Skeletal Muscle Perfusion, and Fitness Status

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · Aug 18, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating how fitness levels, the bacteria in our mouths, and blood flow to our muscles are connected. Researchers want to understand if being fit can influence the types of bacteria found in our mouth and how well our body sends blood to our muscles, which is important for overall health, especially for people with heart conditions or obesity.

To participate, individuals should be at least 18 years old and able to communicate effectively with the study team. However, those with certain conditions, such as recent oral antibiotic use, poor oral health, or specific medical treatments, may not be eligible. Participants will take part in several activities, including providing a mouth swab and saliva sample, cycling to their limit, having blood drawn, wearing a device to monitor blood pressure for a day, and undergoing an ultrasound test to check blood flow to their muscles. They will also drink a small amount of concentrated beetroot juice. This study is currently recruiting participants, and all genders are welcome to join.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Subjects must be able to communicate meaningfully with the investigator and must be legally competent to provide written informed consent.
• • Subjects may be of either sex with age 18 years.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Oral antibiotic use within previous four weeks
• • Oral disease or poor oral health as determined by the Oral Health Questionnaire
• • Using an antibacterial mouthwash or a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine and unwilling to discontinue use
• • Tobacco smokers
• • Pregnant or lactating females
• • Hypersensitivity to any ultrasound contrast agent
• • Inability to perform exercise
• • Unable to communicate effectively in English to the study team.
• • Diagnosis of chronic renal failure (GFR \< 60 ml/min/1.73m)
• • Subjects taking nitroglycerine (or inorganic nitrates), PDE-5 inhibitors (ex: Cialis, Viagra), and xanthine oxidase inhibitors (ex: Allopurinol).