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Cardiovascular DiseasesPhase 1NCT01072864

Effects of California Walnuts on Vascular Function in Postmenopausal Women

A Phase 1 study testing Walnuts in people with Cardiovascular Diseases, run by University of California, Davis at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

To determine the potential acute cardiovascular benefits of California Walnuts in postmenopausal women of ages 55-70. Primary outcome measures: Vascular function Platelet reactivity We hypothesize that the consumption of California walnuts will improve vascular function and platelet reactivity. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 50 to 70 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Cardiovascular Diseases
What is being tested?
Walnuts
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
5 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jun 2010to Sep 2010
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 50 to 70 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 50 to 70 years of age
  • Lack of menses in the last year and FSH 23-116.3 mlU/mL
  • Subject is willing and able to comply with the study protocols.
  • Subject is willing to consume up to 40 g of California walnuts.
  • BMI 18.5-34.9 kg/m2
  • Weight ≥ 110 pounds

Who cannot join

  • BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2
  • Weight <110 pounds
  • Diabetes
  • Taking anticoagulation medication including NSAIDs
  • Blood pressure ≥ 160/90 mm Hg
  • PFA-100 readings 10 % outside of normal reference range (normal reference range for ADP-Collagen: 71-118 sec; Epinephrine-Collagen: 94-193 sec).
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  • Renal or liver disease
  • Heart disease, which includes cardiovascular events and Stroke
  • Cushing's syndrome
  • Chronic/routine high intensity exercise
  • Inability to properly place or wear the PAT probes or abnormal measurements on pre-screening PAT
  • Abnormal Liver, CBC or CMP (laboratory values outside the reference range) if determined to be clinically significant.
  • History of cancer
  • History of psychiatric disorders i.e. schizophrenia or bi-polar or depression treated with antidepressants within the last 1 year.
  • Use of MAOI inhibitor within the last 1 year (e.g. phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), etc)
  • Malabsorption
  • Anxiety medications
  • Routine use of prescription drugs or over-the counter medications, which may potentially modulate the outcome of this study; including antibiotics, aspirin and aspirin-containing formulations, COX-2 inhibitors, antihistamines, corticosteroids, ACE-inhibitors, and beta-blockers.
  • Asthma (can be worsened by mild to moderate food allergies).
  • Indications of substance or alcohol abuse within the last 3 years
  • Use of multivitamin/mineral supplements
  • Use of herbal or plant-based supplements; omega-3 fatty acids, and fish oils in the past 3-6 months.
  • Nut allergies
  • Soy-derived supplements
  • Soy/soy products consumption > 2 servings/week
  • Hormone replacement therapy
  • Alcohol consumption > 1 drink/day (i.e. 1 bottle of beer, ½ glass of wine, and 1 shot of hard liquor)
  • Fruit consumption ≥ 3 cups (6 servings)/day
  • Vegetable consumption ≥ 4 cups (8 servings)/day
  • Grain consumption ≥ 8 oz/day
  • Meat and Beans ≥ 7 oz/day
  • Fatty Fish ≥ 3 times/week
  • Milk ≥ 5 cups/day
  • Oil ≥ 8 tsp/day
  • Coffee/tea ≥ 3 cups/day
  • Dark chocolate ≥ 3 oz/day

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Ragle Human Nutrition Research Center

    Davis, California, 95616

Other trials in United States

About this study

To determine the potential acute cardiovascular benefits of California Walnuts in postmenopausal women of ages 55-70.

Primary outcome measures:

  • Vascular function
  • Platelet reactivity

We hypothesize that the consumption of California walnuts will improve vascular function and platelet reactivity.

Read the detailed description

Epidemiological studies have shown that consumption of high amounts of plant foods, such as nuts, fruits and vegetables, appears to be protective against chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. In recent years, numerous studies indicate that consumption of walnuts mainly containing α-linolenic acid (ALA), L-arginine and polyphenols beneficially alters vascular function and reduces inflammatory biomarkers. Recent studies have reported that consumption of walnuts is associated with beneficial effects in prevention of chronic diseases by favorably altering human serum profiles (i.e. decrease in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and increase in HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1) which are closely involved in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). In addition, recent reports by Dr. Ros and his colleagues indicate that addition of walnuts to a high-fat meal can improve endothelial function. This favorable influence on vasoactivity has been attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of components of walnuts.

Due to their age and menopausal status, postmenopausal women in particular, are at a greater risk population for developing CVD. Males tend to show greater rates of CVD than pre-menopausal women, while women following menopause show an increase in the rates of CVD. This increase is associated with endothelial dysfunction and decreased vasodilation which are apparently expressed after menopause and become worse with age. In this study, we will define the effects of consuming California walnuts on vascular health.

We hypothesize that consumption of California walnuts, which are particularly rich in ALA, L-arginine and polyphenols, will improve endothelial function and platelet reactivity in an at-risk population of postmenopausal women 50-70 years of age.

Being tested
Walnuts
Keywords
Postmenopausal
Medical subject headings
Cardiovascular Diseases

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • WalnutsOther

    Consumption of 5 g of walnuts.

  • WalnutsOther

    Consumption of 20 g of walnuts.

  • WalnutsOther

    Consumption of 30 g of walnuts.

  • WalnutsOther

    Consumption of 40 g of walnuts.

Study groups in NCT01072864
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
5 g of walnutsExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Walnuts
20 g of walnutsExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Walnuts
30 g of walnutsExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Walnuts
40 g of walnutsExperimentalNot described
Receives: Other: Walnuts

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (PAT)

    Measured: 2 and 4 hours

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Feb 2010 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2010
  3. Primary completionAug 2010
  4. Study completionSep 2010

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
5 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01072864
Sponsor's protocol ID
200917508-1
Status last verified
Oct 2010
First submitted
18 Feb 2010
Last updated
1 Nov 2010
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Walnuts in people with Cardiovascular Diseases, run by University of California, Davis at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 36 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Nov 2010. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Peripheral Arterial Tonometry (PAT) (time frame: 2 and 4 hours). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Nov 2010.

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