Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Trial
This study will evaluate the effects of walnut-derived ALA and bioactives on multiple CVD risk factors, including central blood pressure, arterial stiffness indices, inflammatory markers, urinary isoprostanes, vascular adhesion markers, and changes in lipids and lipoproteins. Gut microbiome changes due to walnut consumption will also be assessed using the 16S rRNA gene.
Diets containing nuts likely reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk but the mechanisms remain poorly defined. Walnuts contain substantial amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and are a rich source of bioactives. Many vegetable oils are high in PUFAs but most lack ALA and do not provide the same complement of bioactive compounds as walnuts. ALA is thought to improve cardiovascular health by modulating circulating lipid concentrations, altering membrane structure/function by enhancing the total ω-3 fatty acid content of cell membrane phospholipids, and reducing inflammatory reactions by inhibiting production of arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids. Consumption of walnuts has consistently been shown to improve blood lipids/lipoproteins and vascular health. However, there remains much debate over what is the preferable replacement for saturated fat in the diet. Because of the ALA and bioactives that they provide, walnuts may confer specific CVD benefits. To study the effects of walnuts, in terms of both their ALA content and bioactive compounds, we will compare two test diets (one containing walnuts and one matched for PUFA and ALA content but devoid of walnuts and their bioactives) to a control diet matched for macronutrient and linoleic acid (LA) content but providing oleic acid in place of ALA. This diet design will provide information about how walnuts affect the selected endpoints of interest due to their bioactives as well as their ALA content, and whether walnut ALA is a superior substitute for dietary saturated fat compared to oleic acid. Feeding protocol and study treatments: This study is designed as a double-blind, 3-period, randomized, cross-over controlled feeding study. Prior to randomization, participants will complete a two week run-in on a standard Western diet. Each diet period treatment phase will be 6 weeks in duration, separated by 2-week washout periods. The three test diets are: 1) a walnut diet (WD; providing ~2.0 oz of walnuts per day); 2) a matched walnut control diet (WCD) that will provide the same fatty acid profile as the walnut diet, but will not contain walnuts (and their bioactives); and 3) a low ALA diet (LAD) with a similar macronutrient (and linoleic acid) composition as the WD and WCD, but using oleic acid to replace ALA. Study diets will be prepared in a metabolic kitchen, with three isocaloric meals and a snack provided each day, based on a 7-day rotating menu cycle. Participants will be instructed to consume only the prepared foods and limit their intake of alcohol to 2 drinks/week and caffeinated calorie-free beverages to 40 ounces (5 drinks) per day. Diets will be planned for every subject according to his/her energy requirements and will be nutritionally adequate. This diet design will permit the WD to be compared with the WCD and LAD and, thereby, allow us to ascertain the specific effects that walnuts and their bioactive components (including and beyond ALA) may have on CVD risk factors and artery health. ;
Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
---|---|---|---|
Completed |
NCT02122198 -
Vascular Mechanisms for the Effects of Loss of Ovarian Hormone Function on Cognition in Women
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02502812 -
Bioequivalence Study of Clopidogrel 75 mg in Two Tablet Formulations Relative to Reference Tablet in Healthy Subjects
|
Phase 1 | |
Recruiting |
NCT04216342 -
Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Fx-5A in Healthy Volunteers
|
Phase 1 | |
Completed |
NCT03654313 -
Single and Multiple Ascending Doses of MEDI6570 in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
|
Phase 1 | |
Completed |
NCT03646656 -
Heart Health Buddies: Peer Support to Decrease CVD Risk
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02081066 -
Identification of CETP as a Marker of Atherosclerosis
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02147626 -
Heart Health 4 Moms Trial to Reduce CVD Risk After Preeclampsia
|
N/A | |
Not yet recruiting |
NCT06405880 -
Pharmacist Case Finding and Intervention for Vascular Prevention Trial
|
N/A | |
Recruiting |
NCT03095261 -
Incentives in Cardiac Rehabilitation
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02998918 -
Effects of Short-term Curcumin and Multi-polyphenol Supplementation on the Anti-inflammatory Properties of HDL
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02868710 -
Individual Variability to Aerobic Exercise Training
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02711878 -
Healing Hearts and Mending Minds in Older Adults Living With HIV
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02589769 -
Effects of Reduction in Saturated Fat on Cholesterol and Lipoproteins in Lean and Obese Persons
|
N/A | |
Not yet recruiting |
NCT02578355 -
National Plaque Registry and Database
|
N/A | |
Recruiting |
NCT02885792 -
Coronary Artery Disease in Patients Suffering From Schizophrenia
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02272946 -
Effect of IL--1β Inhibition on Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk
|
Phase 2 | |
Completed |
NCT02652975 -
Anticancer Treatment of Breast Cancer Related to Cardiotoxicity and Dysfunctional Endothelium
|
N/A | |
Completed |
NCT02640859 -
Investigation of Metabolic Risk in Korean Adults
|
||
Completed |
NCT02657382 -
Mental Stress Ischemia: Biofeedback Study
|
N/A | |
Recruiting |
NCT02265250 -
Pilot Study-Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Global Atherosclerosis Risk Assessment
|