Microgreen Consumption for Healthy Aging

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Aging; Menopause; Healthy
• Interventions: Other: Red beet microgreens; Other: Red cabbage microgreens

• Registration Number: NCT04239898
• Lead Sponsor: Colorado State University

Brief Summary

Microgreens are an emerging horticultural food crop with potential to improve human health. Previous research suggests they have broad consumer acceptance and that the micronutrient and bioactive compound levels are higher than that of their mature counterparts. To date, no studies have explored the feasibility of microgreen consumption, gastrointestinal tolerance of microgreen consumption, or their potential health impacts in humans. Therefore, the overall goal of this study is to explore the feasibility and acceptability of daily microgreen consumption, gastrointestinal tolerability, and potential health impacts of red cabbage and red beet microgreens in healthy middle-aged/older men and postmenopausal women - a population inherently at risk for chronic disease, e.g. cardiovascular disease.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-07-16
• Status Verified: 2019-09
• Study First Submitted: 2019-11-12
• Primary Completion: 2019-11-22
• Study Completion: 2019-11-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-01-21
• Study First Posted: 2020-01-27
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-08-13
• Last Update Posted: 2020-08-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

• Male or postmenopausal
• Aged 45-70

Exclusion Criteria

• Cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, neuropathy, thrombosis, cancer, gastrointestinal, kidney, liver, lung, or pancreatic disease
• Taking medication for high cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood sugar, or are taking testosterone medications
• Blood pressure ≥ 130/80 mm Hg, triglyceride levels > 200 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels ≥ 160 mg/dL, total cholesterol levels ≥ 240 mg/dL, and/or hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%
• Weight change ≥ 3 kg (6.6 lb.) in the past 3 months prior to starting the study, are actively trying to lose weight, or are unwilling to remain weight stable throughout the study
• Have a BMI less than 18.5 or greater than 30 kg/m2
• Are not willing to maintain normal eating/drinking and exercise habits over the duration of the study
• Currently smoke cigarettes or have a history of smoking cigarettes in the past 12 months
• Taking antibiotics or have taken them within one month of starting the study
• Binge and/or heavy drinker (>4 drinks on any given occasion and/or >14 drinks/week for men)
• Have allergies or contraindication to study foods, procedures, or procedure supplies

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Red beet microgreens	Red beet microgreens	2 cups of fresh red beet microgreens per day
Red cabbage microgreens	Red cabbage microgreens	2 cups of fresh red cabbage microgreens per day

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of participants retained	Baseline to 6 weeks	The number of participants retained versus lost to follow-up throughout the entire study
Adherence to the intervention	Baseline to 2 weeks	Adherence will be determined for each 2-week microgreen intervention through a daily microgreen consumption log

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Gastrointestinal symptom self-assessment	Baseline to 2 weeks	Determine the effects on gastrointestinal symptoms using a validated questionnaire for each 2-week microgreen intervention
Gastrointestinal health	Baseline to 2 weeks	Determine the effects on gastrointestinal health using a daily bowel movement log for each 2-week microgreen intervention
Blood pressure	Baseline to 2 weeks	Determine the effects on brachial and aortic blood pressure measured by SphygmoCor for each 2-week microgreen intervention
Augmentation index	Baseline to 2 weeks	Determine the effects on augmentation index measured by SphygmoCor for each 2-week microgreen intervention
Microbiota modulation	Baseline to 2 weeks	Use of 16s rRNA sequencing of stool samples to determine the effects of each 2-week microgreen intervention on microbial populations
Acceptability	2-week visit	Determine acceptability and feasibility of daily microgreen consumption through qualitative interviews with study participants at completion of the 2-week study

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Colorado State University; 🇺🇸 Fort Collins, Colorado, United States