MedPath

Flaxseed Lignan Supplementation in Elderly Participants With Stage I Hypertension

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Hypertension
Interventions
Behavioral: Walking training
Dietary Supplement: BeneFlax®
Behavioral: Flexibility training
Dietary Supplement: Placebo (Whey Protein)
Behavioral: Dash Eating Plan
Registration Number
NCT02391779
Lead Sponsor
University of Saskatchewan
Brief Summary

Current recommendations today suggest that use of therapeutic lifestyle changes, such as supplementation with specific dietary components and moderate exercise, are appropriate interventions for individuals with borderline high blood pressure. Dietary intervention with natural products, such as flaxseed, is associated with decreased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (Adolphe 2010). Lignans are the active compounds in flaxseed believed to mediate the cardiovascular health benefits following flaxseed consumption (Peterson 2010). Clinical trials indicate benefit of Flax Lignan Enriched Complex (FLC) (BeneFlax® from Archer Daniels Midland, a natural product derived from flaxseed composed of 34-38% lignan) for reducing blood cholesterol and glucose (Pan 2007; Zhang 2008) and blood pressure (Cornish 2009). Furthermore, a recent study in atherosclerosis patients showed significant clinical benefit of flaxseed meal for reducing blood pressure (Rodriguez-Leyva 2013). As a therapeutic lifestyle change that could prevent a need to introduce drug therapy in elderly patients, the effectiveness of FLC supplementation alone or in combination with moderate exercise merits investigation.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • High normal blood pressure (130/85 - 139/89) or stage I hypertension (140/90 - 150/90)
  • Ability to follow simple instructions
Exclusion Criteria
  • Age below 60 years.
  • Individuals living in long term care homes.
  • Individuals unable to walk for 30 minutes.
  • Unstable diabetes, or diabetics taking insulin (note: eligible diabetic participants will undergo additional testing during the study ).
  • Current cancer or diagnosed with cancer in the past 2 years.
  • Significant liver or other gastrointestinal disorder including inflammatory bowel disease. (While constipation is the most common gastrointestinal problem in the elderly, it would not be a contraindication)
  • Significant kidney disorder.
  • Have taken oral antibiotics in the past three months
  • Unstable or severe cardiac disease, recent myocardial infarction, or stroke (either in past 6 months or significantly affecting physical mobility).
  • Unstable other medical disease including, but not limited to, pulmonary disorder, epilepsy and genitourinary disorder.
  • Migraine with aura within the last year (as this is a risk factor for stroke).
  • Current diagnosis of a bleeding condition, or at risk of bleeding.
  • Significant immune-compromise.
  • Current use of hormone replacement therapy (except thyroid).
  • Current use of blood pressure medications and/or diuretics
  • Current use of flax seed supplement
  • Participation in any other clinical trial with an investigational agent within one month prior to randomization.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Placebo + walking training (Dash)Walking trainingPlacebo (whey powder isocaloric to BeneFlax) with exercise training (30-60 minutes walking training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
BeneFlax® + walking training (Dash)BeneFlax®BeneFlax (0.8 g, twice a day) with exercise training (30-60 minutes walking training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
BeneFlax® + walking training (Dash)Dash Eating PlanBeneFlax (0.8 g, twice a day) with exercise training (30-60 minutes walking training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
BeneFlax® + walking training (Dash)Walking trainingBeneFlax (0.8 g, twice a day) with exercise training (30-60 minutes walking training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
BeneFlax® + flexibility training (Dash)Flexibility trainingBeneFlax (0.8 g, twice a day) with placebo exercise training (flexibility training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
Placebo + flexibility training (Dash)Dash Eating PlanPlacebo (whey powder isocaloric to BeneFlax) with placebo exercise training (flexibility training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
Placebo + walking training (Dash)Placebo (Whey Protein)Placebo (whey powder isocaloric to BeneFlax) with exercise training (30-60 minutes walking training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
Placebo + walking training (Dash)Dash Eating PlanPlacebo (whey powder isocaloric to BeneFlax) with exercise training (30-60 minutes walking training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
Placebo + flexibility training (Dash)Flexibility trainingPlacebo (whey powder isocaloric to BeneFlax) with placebo exercise training (flexibility training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
BeneFlax® + flexibility training (Dash)BeneFlax®BeneFlax (0.8 g, twice a day) with placebo exercise training (flexibility training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
BeneFlax® + flexibility training (Dash)Dash Eating PlanBeneFlax (0.8 g, twice a day) with placebo exercise training (flexibility training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
Placebo + flexibility training (Dash)Walking trainingPlacebo (whey powder isocaloric to BeneFlax) with placebo exercise training (flexibility training, 5 times a week) for 8 weeks; all participants encouraged to follow Dash Eating Plan.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in 24 h ambulatory systolic blood pressureBaseline, week 4, and week 8

Reduction in 24 h ambulatory systolic blood pressure at midpoint (week 4) and end (week 8) of the intervention relative to baseline value is the primary outcome of the intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Heart rateBaseline
Glucometer fasting blood glucoseWeek 8

Diabetes only; Blood glucose monitored to ensure intervention does not result in hypoglycemia.

Change in Body composition by DXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry)Baseline, week 4, and week 8

Change in body composition at midpoint (week 4) and end (week 8) of the intervention relative to baseline value.

Change in body weightBaseline, week 4, and week 8

Change in body weight at midpoint (week 4) and end (week 8) of the intervention relative to baseline value.

Change in lying and standing blood pressureBaseline, week 4, and week 8

Change in lying and standing blood pressure at midpoint (week 4) and end (week 8) of the intervention relative to baseline value.

Block Food Frequency QuestionnaireWeek 8
Heart RateWeek 8
Change in blood markers of safety and cardiovascular disease risk factors (clinical biochemical panel including fasting glucose, lipids, cholesterol, electrolytes, C-reactive protein)Baseline, week 4, and week 8

These parameters will be measured individual but reviewed as a composite to confirm safety and any change in cardiovascular disease risk.

Blood levels of the flax lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), and its metabolitesWeek 8
Physical activity assessment tool (PASE)Baseline
Respiratory rateWeek 8

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

College of Pharmacy, University of Saskatchewan

🇨🇦

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

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