Role of Flavanols In Cardiovascular Function in Healthy Aging
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Aging
In brief
Groups of naturally occurring compounds called flavonoids are found in foods such as fruits and vegetables, red wine, tea, dark chocolate and cocoa products. Diets rich in flavonoids are associated with decreased risk for cardiovascular disease and major cardiovascular events (i.e. myocardial infarction) and have been shown to improve blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and vascular function in a variety populations (Type II diabetes, elderly, smokers, etc.). The presumed beneficial effects of these compounds are thought to act through their inherent ability to scavenge free radicals. Specifically flavonoids scavenge superoxide anions which are free radicals that react with nitric oxide (NO) to produce peroxynitrite. The formation of peroxynitrite ultimately reduces the bioavailability of NO which is essential for vasodilation and thus vascular health and function. Normal aging is associated with impaired endothelial function, which presumably is due to less than optimal levels of NO bioavailability. Therefore, interventions that can increase NO bioavailability would be expected to improve microvascular function and vascular health in this population. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary flavonoid supplementation on the vasodilatory capacity of the cutaneous vasculature, as well as on cerebral vascular reactivity and arterial stiffness in young and old humans. This study will test the hypothesis that acute dietary flavonoid treatment will improve impaired cutaneous vasodilatory capacity, cerebral vasomotor reactivity, and reduce arterial stiffness in older but not young humans.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT01395277
- Run by
- University of Texas at Austin
- People needed
- 30
- Starts
- 2011-09-01
- Expected to finish
- 2014-05-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2015-08-10
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Males and Females between 18 - 26 years old
- Males and Females between 65 - 80 years old
You may not qualify if…
- cardiovascular disease
- metabolic disease
- neurological disease
- Pregnant lady
- Current smoker (or regularly smoked within last year)
- Currently taking medications known to effect the autonomic nervous system
Where it is running
- University of Texas at Austin: Environmental and Autonomic Physiolgy Laboratory — Austin, Texas, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.