Effect of Watermelon on Cardiometabolic Health
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexFemale
AgeNot listed
SponsorUniversity of California, Los Angeles
About this trial
The purpose of this study is to determine whether consumption of 355 ml of watermelon juice will:
1. improve cardiovascular and overall metabolic health markers like blood pressure, heart rate, stiffness/flexibility of arteries (blood vessels), blood sugar, cholesterol), and gut hormones 2. contribute to the body's ability to protect itself from the potential cell damage caused by harmful chemical compounds (produced when skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) B light, for example). This will be evaluated by measuring how resistant skin is to the damage from UVB light exposure, as well as several markers of bodily stress blood and urine.
This will be determined immediately after consuming the juice (to evaluate the effects the juice has on health right away), as well as after 4 weeks of daily juice consumption (to evaluate the effects the juice has on health when consumed consistently over time).
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Female
Generally healthy
Postmenopausal
BMI 25-40 kg/m2
Disqualifiers
Non-English speaker
Vegetarian/vegan
Known watermelon allergy
Skin-related prescription medication, supplements, or non-prescription cosmeceutical agents
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
Watermelon Juice + liquid meal test at baseline
Other interventionWMJ will be purchased from a commercially available brand. The liquid meal test will be in the form of the Boost nutritional drink (8 fl.oz., vanilla flavor), which is commercially available.
Sweetened placebo beverage +liquid meal test at baseline
Other interventionThe placebo beverage made of water and sugar will match the sugar content provided in 355 ml of WMJ (approximately 10-20 g). The liquid meal test will be in the form of the Boost nutritional drink (8 fl.oz., vanilla flavor), which is commercially available.
Treatment groups
22 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Watermelon Juice + liquid meal test at baselineExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Sweetened placebo beverage + liquid meal test at baselinePlacebo comparator 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Postprandial blood pressure
To determine the acute and chronic effects of WMJ consumption on cardiometabolic health, specifically focusing on postprandial blood pressure. Previous studies showed that watermelon extract improved blood pressure management in subjects with prehypertension and hypertension and reduced arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women. Postprandial blood pressure response is recently identified to be the most sensitive postprandial clinical feature in predicting subclinical atherosclerosis. However, no study has evaluated the effect of watermelon on postprandial blood pressure. Blood pressure will be measured in mm/Hg.
Time frame
Baseline and Week 42
Postprandial heart rate
Will be measured in beats per minute.
Time frame
Baseline and 4 weeks.3
Postprandial pulse wave velocity
Will be measured in meters/second.
Time frame
Baseline and 4 weeks.Secondary outcomes
1
Postprandial nitric oxide (NO)
Will be measured in µmol/L
Time frame
Baseline and 4 weeks.2
Postprandial glucose
Dysregulation of postprandial glucose and lipid responses has been implicated in the development of metabolic diseases. A previous study showed that watermelon juice consumption acutely stabilized postprandial glucose and insulin levels compared to matched sugar water in healthy subjects. Here, we will evaluate both acute and chronic effects of watermelon juice on postprandial circulating biomarker responses.
Time frame
Baseline and 4 weeks.3
Postprandial blood lipids/lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides).
All will be measured in mg/dL.
Time frame
Baseline and 4 weeks.4
Postprandial insulin
Will be measured in international units.
Time frame
Baseline and 4 weeks.Other outcomes
1
Minimal Erythema Dose (MED)
Based on overall skin type classification, we will use the National Biological UVB mJ chart to determine the dose and sequential exposure times. Using the SPF Solar Simulator (Solar light, PA), participants' inner arm will be irradiated with a defined dose of UVB light. A total of six gradually increasing doses will be used. The subjects will return 24 hours later to determine which skin area shows minimal erythema (pink color). Photographs will be taken before irradiation and after 24 hours. The lowest dose and time of the occurrence of pink will be determined and used as MED.
Time frame
Baseline and week 4.2
Blood and urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations
Will be measured in µM
Time frame
Baseline and 4 weeks.Sponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of California, Los Angeles
Lead sponsor
National Watermelon Promotion Board
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov