Postprandial Urolithin Patterns Following Pecan Consumption

Description

Pecan-enriched diets have been linked to improved cardiovascular health, including postprandial blood lipids and microvascular reactivity in older adults. This has led to recommendations to increase regular pecan consumption, however there is no consistent plasma measure of pecan intake. Traditionally, plasma tocopherols have been used, although they reach peak concentrations in plasma around 6-8 hours post pecan consumption, leading to high variability at 24 hours. Therefore, a more reliable biomarker of pecan consumption needs to be defined. The purpose of this study is to analyze the postprandial response of urolithins in human plasma after a pecan enriched meal and compare their appearance pattern to tocopherols. This single blind, randomized crossover trial is designed to provide two acute meal challenges for each participant (anticipated n=30, BMI 18.5 - 24.9, age 18-30y) with a washout period of \~14 days between each challenge. The intervention meal contains 68g of pecans and the control shake contains whipped cream instead of pecans, and the order of each meal will be randomly assigned. Blood draws will be collected at fasting (0-h) and every 2 hours until 8 hours postprandial, then at 12-, 24-, and 48h after the meal. The levels of urolithins and tocopherols will be quantified through liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. To our knowledge, this is the first time urolithins will be tracked in plasma up to 48h post meal. This study will be used to establish of a new and more consistent dietary biomarker for pecans.

Conditions

Change in Plasma Urolithins and Vitamin E

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Pecan-enriched diets have been linked to improved cardiovascular health, including postprandial blood lipids and microvascular reactivity in older adults. This has led to recommendations to increase regular pecan consumption, however there is no consistent plasma measure of pecan intake. Traditionally, plasma tocopherols have been used, although they reach peak concentrations in plasma around 6-8 hours post pecan consumption, leading to high variability at 24 hours. Therefore, a more reliable biomarker of pecan consumption needs to be defined. The purpose of this study is to analyze the postprandial response of urolithins in human plasma after a pecan enriched meal and compare their appearance pattern to tocopherols. This single blind, randomized crossover trial is designed to provide two acute meal challenges for each participant (anticipated n=30, BMI 18.5 - 24.9, age 18-30y) with a washout period of \~14 days between each challenge. The intervention meal contains 68g of pecans and the control shake contains whipped cream instead of pecans, and the order of each meal will be randomly assigned. Blood draws will be collected at fasting (0-h) and every 2 hours until 8 hours postprandial, then at 12-, 24-, and 48h after the meal. The levels of urolithins and tocopherols will be quantified through liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. To our knowledge, this is the first time urolithins will be tracked in plasma up to 48h post meal. This study will be used to establish of a new and more consistent dietary biomarker for pecans.

Postprandial Urolithin Response to a Pecan-Enriched Meal

Postprandial Urolithin Patterns Following Pecan Consumption

Condition
Change in Plasma Urolithins and Vitamin E
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Athens

Human Nutrition Lab, Athens, Georgia, United States, 30601

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Healthy individuals with BMI between 18.5 - 29.9 kg/m2
  • * Does not make use of medication (Birth control, and antidepressants SSRIs accepted)
  • * Does not make use of any nicotine products
  • * Has not been diagnosed with any diseases that can impair swallowing, digestion or lipid metabolism
  • * Individuals with BMI \< 18.5 or BMI \> 29.9 kg/m2
  • * Individuals with chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal system
  • * Individuals currently taking antibiotics or any other medications not included on the inclusion criteria
  • * Individuals that have a current fever, or have any infection
  • * Individuals can not be taking prebiotics/probiotics supplementation, as well as multivitamin.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 30 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Georgia,

Chad M Paton, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Georgia

Study Record Dates

2024-07-30