Tahini, Antioxidant Status and Endothelial Function

Blood Pressure Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effect of Tahini Consumption on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Markers as Well as Endothelial Function and Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Volunteers

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04608747
• Other study ID #: 703
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 2, 2020
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: October 2020
• Source: Harokopio University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), a cluster of disorders that affect heart and blood vessels, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world and is responsible for 17.9 million deaths annually worldwide. CVD risk factors can be modifiable (nutrition, physical activity, obesity, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes) and non-modifiable (age, gender, ethnicity, family history and socioeconomic status). Chronic exposure to CVD risk factors induces oxidative stress and promotes inflammation. In addition, endothelial cells in response to the inflammatory reaction secrete growth factors, leading to the destruction of vascular endothelium and promoting atherogenesis.

Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant compounds, with predominance of the pro-oxidant ones. Reactive Oxygen Species overproduction has been implicated in pathogenesis and complications of numerous diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and chronic kidney disease.

Moreover, endothelium consists of a single layer of endothelial cells; it is the natural barrier between blood and tissues and also an endocrine organ. It plays a key role in vascular homeostasis by maintaining a balance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction and is responsible for fluid filtration, blood vessel tone, hormone trafficking, hemostasis, regulation of blood flow and growth of blood vessels. Thus, reductions in endothelial function are detrimental and predict and precede the development of overt CVD.

Sesame belongs to Pedaliaceae family and can be consumed in different forms such as seeds, oil or tahini, i.e., a 100 % peeled, ground and roasted sesame paste. Sesame seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, vitamin E and lignans, such as sesamin, sesamolin and sesamol. Recent studies have highlighted the antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic and appetite control properties of sesame seeds and sesame oil.

Regarding the consumption of tahini and its effect on human health, only three studies are available in the current literature, one of them in patients with type 2 diabetes, one in diabetic animal model and one in Alzheimer's disease animal model. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of tahini consumption on oxidative stress, blood pressure, endothelial function and arterial stiffness in healthy males postprandially.

Description:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), a cluster of disorders that affect heart and blood vessels, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world and is responsible for 17.9 million deaths annually worldwide. CVD includes coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. CVD risk factors can be modifiable (nutrition, physical activity, obesity, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes) and non-modifiable (age, gender, ethnicity, family history and socioeconomic status). Chronic exposure to CVD risk factors induces oxidative stress and promotes inflammation. In addition, endothelial cells in response to the inflammatory reaction secrete growth factors, leading to the destruction of vascular endothelium and promoting atherogenesis.

Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant compounds, with predominance of the pro-oxidant ones. These compounds are also called Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) or free radicals and are unstable atoms or molecules. Their generation, as products of normal cellular metabolism, occurs naturally by endogenous sources (e.g. mitochondria, peroxisomes and endoplasmic reticulum) through enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. Furthermore, exogenous sources implicated in free radical production are air pollution, alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, ultraviolet light exposure, industrial solvents and others. Free radical production is regulated by the well-organized human endogenous enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant system, along with the exogenous antioxidants found in food. However, in some cases antioxidant system fails to eliminate ROS overproduction and can consequently induce serious damage to important for life biomolecules (DNA, lipids, proteins), leading to cell injury and death. Thus, ROS overproduction has been implicated in pathogenesis and complications of numerous diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and chronic kidney disease.

Moreover, endothelium consists of a single layer of endothelial cells; it is the natural barrier between blood and tissues and also an endocrine organ. It plays a key role in vascular homeostasis by maintaining a balance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Moreover, vascular endothelium is responsible for fluid filtration, blood vessel tone, hormone trafficking, hemostasis, regulation of blood flow and growth of blood vessels. Thus, reductions in endothelial function are detrimental and predict and precede the development of overt CVD.

Sesame belongs to Pedaliaceae family and can be consumed in different forms such as seeds, oil or tahini, i.e., a 100 % peeled, ground and roasted sesame paste. Sesame seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), proteins, vitamin E and lignans, such as sesamin, sesamolin and sesamol. Recent studies have highlighted the antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic and appetite control properties of sesame seeds and sesame oil. Moreover, few studies have investigated the effect of sesame consumption on blood pressure, endothelial function and arterial stiffness in human population. According to a metanalysis, sesame consumed in form of seed, oil, capsule or bar decreased both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), while sesame oil consumption was found to improve endothelial function both in the postprandial state and after long term consumption in hypertensive men.

Regarding the consumption of tahini and its effect on human health, only three studies are available in the current literature, one of them in patients with type 2 diabetes, one in diabetic animal model and one in Alzheimer's disease animal model. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of tahini consumption on oxidative stress, blood pressure, endothelial function and arterial stiffness in healthy males postprandially.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 20
• Est. completion date: July 31, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: July 31, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Male
• Age group: 20 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• age between 20 and 40 years

• Body Mass Index (BMI)<30 kg/m2

Exclusion Criteria:

• alcohol or drug abuse,

• any medication or vitamin/mineral supplementation

• alternative diet (vegetarian, macrobiotic, etc.)

• recent use of antibiotics

• history of any chronic disease

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Arterial Stiffness
• Blood Glucose
• Blood Pressure
• Endothelial Function
• Oxidative Stress

Intervention

Other:
• Tahini
Fifty grams of tahini were consumed by 20 healthy males

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Greece	Diabetes Center, First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital	Athens

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Harokopio University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Greece, 

References & Publications (23)

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Gouveia Lde A, Cardoso CA, de Oliveira GM, Rosa G, Moreira AS. Effects of the Intake of Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum L.) and Derivatives on Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review. J Med Food. 2016 Apr;19(4):337-45. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2015.0075. Review. — View Citation

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Karatzi K, Stamatelopoulos K, Lykka M, Mantzouratou P, Skalidi S, Zakopoulos N, Papamichael C, Sidossis LS. Sesame oil consumption exerts a beneficial effect on endothelial function in hypertensive men. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2013 Apr;20(2):202-8. doi: 10.1177/2047487312437625. Epub 2012 Jan 25. — View Citation

Khalesi S, Paukste E, Nikbakht E, Khosravi-Boroujeni H. Sesame fractions and lipid profiles: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. Br J Nutr. 2016 Mar 14;115(5):764-73. doi: 10.1017/S0007114515005012. Epub 2016 Jan 13. Review. — View Citation

Khosravi-Boroujeni H, Nikbakht E, Natanelov E, Khalesi S. Can sesame consumption improve blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials. J Sci Food Agric. 2017 Aug;97(10):3087-3094. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.8361. Epub 2017 May 12. Review. — View Citation

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Kumar, S., & Pandey, A. (2015). Free Radicals: Health Implications and their Mitigation by Herbals. British Journal Of Medicine And Medical Research, 7(6), 438-457. doi: 10.9734/bjmmr/2015/16284

Namiki M. Nutraceutical functions of sesame: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2007;47(7):651-73. Review. — View Citation

Neves Ribeiro D, Gonçalves Alfenas Rde C, Bressan J, Brunoro Costa NM. The effect of oilseed consumption on appetite and on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutr Hosp. 2013 Mar-Apr;28(2):296-305. doi: 10.3305/nh.2013.28.2.6309. Review. — View Citation

Park KH, Park WJ. Endothelial Dysfunction: Clinical Implications in Cardiovascular Disease and Therapeutic Approaches. J Korean Med Sci. 2015 Sep;30(9):1213-25. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.9.1213. Epub 2015 Aug 13. Review. — View Citation

Pathak N, Rai AK, Kumari R, Bhat KV. Value addition in sesame: A perspective on bioactive components for enhancing utility and profitability. Pharmacogn Rev. 2014 Jul;8(16):147-55. doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.134249. Review. — View Citation

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Raeisi-Dehkordi, H., Mohammadi, M., Moghtaderi, F., & Salehi-Abargouei, A. (2018). Do sesame seed and its products affect body weight and composition? A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials. Journal Of Functional Foods, 49, 324-332. doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2018.08.036

Rajendran P, Rengarajan T, Thangavel J, Nishigaki Y, Sakthisekaran D, Sethi G, Nishigaki I. The vascular endothelium and human diseases. Int J Biol Sci. 2013 Nov 9;9(10):1057-69. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.7502. eCollection 2013. Review. — View Citation

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Sies H. Oxidative stress: a concept in redox biology and medicine. Redox Biol. 2015;4:180-3. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2015.01.002. Epub 2015 Jan 3. Review. — View Citation

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Willcox JK, Ash SL, Catignani GL. Antioxidants and prevention of chronic disease. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2004;44(4):275-95. Review. — View Citation

Wu WH, Kang YP, Wang NH, Jou HJ, Wang TA. Sesame ingestion affects sex hormones, antioxidant status, and blood lipids in postmenopausal women. J Nutr. 2006 May;136(5):1270-5. — View Citation

Zoumpoulakis, P., Sinanoglou, V., Batrinou, A., Strati, I., Miniadis-Meimaroglou, S., & Sflomos, K. (2012). A combined methodology to detect ?-irradiated white sesame seeds and evaluate the effects on fat content, physicochemical properties and protein allergenicity. Food Chemistry, 131(2), 713-721. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.09.049

* Note: There are 23 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Concentration of oxidative stress biomarkers	concentration of urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2a	Four hours after tahini consumption