Exercise, Hypertension, and Gut Dysbiosis in African Americans

Running, not enrolling · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Hypertension

In brief

African Americans have the greatest burden of endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. Recently, gut microbial dysbiosis (a term that describes a poorly diverse gut microbial profile and lower short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production) has been linked to hypertension and may be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension in African Americans. African Americans have been reported to have lower gut SCFA and SCFA can reduce blood pressure. Exercise reduces blood pressure and improves gut dysbiosis (increases SCFA) and likely couples' improvements in gut microbial health and vascular function to reduce blood pressure. Thus, the goals of this research are to fill a critical void concerning the interaction of gut dysbiosis, hypertension, and utilizing exercise to identify gut microbial adaptations that accompany a reduction in blood pressure. The short-term implications of this work will advance the clinical communities understanding of the relationship between dysbiosis and the pathogenesis of hypertension in African Americans, while long term implications will promote identifying adaptable gut microbes associated with vascular health to aid in amending treatment strategies for hypertension.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT03897777

Run by

North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University

People needed

36

Starts

2019-06-01

Expected to finish

2030-06-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-13

Who can join

Age: 30 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Sedentary (regular aerobic exercise frequency ≤2 times per week and duration ≤20 minutes per session; sedentary profession);
• 30-50 years of age;
• Control normotensive (systolic BP: 90-120 mmHg/diastolic BP: 60-80 mmHg)
• Elevated to Stage 1 Hypertension (systolic BP: 120-129 mmHg/diastolic BP: 80-89 mmHg) and/or stage 1 hypertension (systolic BP: 130-159 mmHg/diastolic BP: 90-99 mmHg).

You may not qualify if…

• Diagnosed with any of the following:
• Uncontrolled hypertension, stroke, history of heart attack, heart disease;
• Metabolic disease (diabetes mellitus);
• Inflammatory diseases (inflammatory bowel disease(s), rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus);
• Kidney stones or gallbladder problems;
• Kidney disease;
• Liver disease;
• Lung disease;
• Cancer within the previous 6 months; (11) pregnant females;
• Peripheral vascular disease;
• Taking hypertension medications or those known to affect inflammation or metabolic function (anti-inflammatories, statins, thyroid medication) in the past 1 month;
• Currently smoking;
• Other conditions that would exclude vigorous exercise (>2mV ST-segment depression or CVD signs and symptoms during the screening graded exercise test).

Where it is running

• North Carolina A&T State University — Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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