Cheese Consumption and Human Microvascular Function
Completed · Phase 1/Phase 2
Conditions studied: Microvascular Dysfunction
In brief
Increased dairy intake is associated with improved measures of blood vessel health. Dairy cheese, however, is often high in sodium. Dietary sodium can impair blood vessel function. The researchers examine if and how natural cheese may protect against impairments in blood vessel function caused by sodium. For this study, participants complete four 8-day controlled feeding periods in which they eat cheese (6 oz/day) or no cheese during a low-sodium or high-sodium base-diet. The participants complete baseline experiments while on their normal personal diet and then repeat experiments at the end of each controlled feeding period. In some of our experiments, the researchers use a technique called "microdialysis" (MD). With MD, the researchers perfuse some research drugs into the skin on the forearm through tiny tubing that mimics capillaries. These MD drugs mimic or block substances the body naturally makes to control the small blood vessels in the skin. The drugs remain in nickel-sized areas around the tubing and do not go into the rest of the body. The researchers also use a standard technique called "flow mediated dilation" (FMD) that uses blood pressure cuffs and ultrasound to look at the health of larger blood vessels in the body. FMD includes placing a small tablet of nitroglycerin under the tongue during part of the test.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03376555
- Run by
- Lacy Alexander
- People needed
- 13
- Starts
- 2017-07-01
- Expected to finish
- 2021-03-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-05-04
Who can join
Age: 55 and older, up to 75. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Seated systolic pressure 120-140 mmHg
- Seated diastolic pressure 70-90 mmHg.
- Normoglycemic (HbA1C <5.7%)
You may not qualify if…
- Taking pharmacotherapy that alters peripheral vascular control
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Females taking contraceptives (pills, patches, shots, etc.) or hormone replacement therapy
- Taking illicit and/or recreational drugs
- Use of nicotine containing-products (e.g. smoking, chewing tobacco, etc.)
- Known allergy to latex or investigative substances
Where it is running
- Pennsylvania State University — University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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