Effect of Watermelon on Gut and Cardiometabolic Health

Launched by FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY · Sep 4, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how eating fresh watermelon every day for six weeks may impact gut health and overall health in young adults who are overweight or obese. The researchers want to find out if watermelon can help improve the gut barrier, which is important for digestion and overall health, and if it can increase the variety of good bacteria in the gut. They will also look at other health factors like body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels compared to participants who will eat a low-fat snack instead of watermelon.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be between 18 and 30 years old and have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 39.9, which means they are classified as overweight or mildly obese. People with certain health conditions, recent antibiotic use, or significant alcohol consumption are not eligible. If you join the trial, you'll be asked to eat fresh watermelon daily and participate in health assessments over the six-week period. This study is currently recruiting participants and aims to provide insights into how a simple change in diet, like adding watermelon, might benefit gut and heart health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Between 18 and 30 years old
• • Ability to speak and read in English
• • Overweight or Obese Class 1 and 2 (BMI ≥ 25 - 39.9 kg/m2)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Intake of antibiotics in the last 3 months
• • Intake of pre/pro/postbiotics in the last 3 months
• • Current or past (within the last 6 months) user of tobacco, marijuana, or E-cigarette products
• • Cardiovascular disease (will not exclude for hypertension), gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis, celiac, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, peptic ulcers, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, short bowel syndrome), neurological (multiple sclerosis, meningitis, recent stroke) or endocrine disorders (uncontrolled thyroid disorders, growth hormone disorders, adrenal gland disorders, uncontrolled diabetes - A1C greater than 9%).
• • Food allergy to study foods
• • Any allergy to melon
• • Any allergy to the isocaloric snack (gluten)
• • Regular consumption of watermelon greater than 2 servings / week
• • Current heavy alcohol use (≥ 15 drinks / week for men, ≥ 8 drinks / week for women
• • Class 3 Obesity (BMI \> 40 kg/m2)
• • Current user of Citrulline, Arginine, Nitric Oxide or other supplements known to affect nitric oxide synthesis (beet root juice or any beet supplement, Pycnogenol / Pine bark extract)
• • Known to be currently pregnant (self-disclosed)