Effect of Consuming Red Furu On Serum Vitamin B12, Homocysteine And Other Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors In Healthy Young Volunteers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study will apply the parallel study method and participants will be randomized into two groups. In the randomized controlled clinical trial, twenty-three healthy young volunteers (11 females and 12 males, aged 19-39 years) were recruited from Zhejiang University, China. They were randomly assigned to two groups of either red furu (n=11, 5 females and 6 males) or tofu (n=12, 6 females and 6 males). Volunteers consumed a provided meal, either 50 g of red furu or tofu with two slices of bread for 1 day breakfast meal. Volunteers also recorded their normal dietary intake during the 3 days trial period using provided self-report food diary. Fasting blood sample was drawn at 0h, 24h and 72h. Serum VB12, Hcy and other cardio-metabolic risk factors were measured by standard methods.

Test Meals:

Red Furu Group: 50 g of red furu with 2 slices of bread. Tofu Group: 50 g of plain tofu eaten with 2 slices of bread. Volunteers will refrain from consumption of fermented products 1 week prior to the study. Thereafter subject feed on control diet and intervention diet for 1 day. Volunteers' normal diets and test meals will be recorded on a self-administered questionnaire, followed by testing serum vitamin B12, Homocysteine and other biochemical parameters.

5-10 mL blood will be collected per session. Blood will be collected: 3 times (0h-24h-72h).Participants will be asked to fast for 10-12 hours prior to the blood draw.