Effect of Watermelon on Cardiometabolic Health
Effect of Watermelon Consumption on Cardiometabolic Health and Whole-Body Antioxidant Capacity
University of California, Los Angeles
22 participants
Apr 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether consumption of 355 ml of watermelon juice will: 1. improve cardiovascular and overall metabolic health markers like blood pressure, heart rate, stiffness/flexibility of arteries (blood vessels), blood sugar, cholesterol), and gut hormones 2. contribute to the body's ability to protect itself from the potential cell damage caused by harmful chemical compounds (produced when skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) B light, for example). This will be evaluated by measuring how resistant skin is to the damage from UVB light exposure, as well as several markers of bodily stress blood and urine. This will be determined immediately after consuming the juice (to evaluate the effects the juice has on health right away), as well as after 4 weeks of daily juice consumption (to evaluate the effects the juice has on health when consumed consistently over time).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria11
- Female
- Generally healthy
- Postmenopausal
- BMI 25-40 kg/m2
- Systolic blood pressure 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic 80-89 mmHg
- Fitzpatrick Skin type II-IV
- Consume a typical Western diet (low in polyphenol/lycopene-rich foods and fiber)
- Willing to maintain habitual dietary and exercise patterns for the study duration
- Willing to maintain normal skin care products and pattern for the duration of the study
- Willing to come to Baseline Visit B and Week 4 study visits without any makeup and skin products on
- Subjects must read and sign the Institutional Review Board-approved written informed consent prior to the initiation of any study specific procedures or enrollment. A subject will be excluded for any condition that might compromise the ability to give truly informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria15
- Non-English speaker
- Vegetarian/vegan
- Known watermelon allergy
- Skin-related prescription medication, supplements, or non-prescription cosmeceutical agents
- Initiation of topical or oral prescription steroids and/or anti-inflammatory medications within 30 days prior to study enrollment
- Excessive exposure to either natural or artificial sunlight. Exposure to sunlight will be evaluated using Fitzpatrick Skin Type test score. Individuals receiving scores higher than the upper cutoff of the proposed range for the specific skin type will be excluded
- Screening laboratory values outside of the normal range that is considered clinically significant for study participation by the investigator
- Documented chronic disease, including diabetes, renal or liver diseases, metabolic syndrome, active cancer, MI or stroke, history of gastric bypass or GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, IBD, diverticulosis, diverticulitis, etc.)
- Taking medications or supplements known to affect metabolism or gut microbiota composition (antibiotics within the past 3 months, probiotics, fiber, etc.), unless willing to stop for the study duration
- Taking exogenous hormones (e.g., hormone replacement therapy)
- Recent weight fluctuations (>10% in the last 6 months)
- Smoker or living with a smoker
- Use of >20 g of alcohol per day
- Unable or unwilling to comply with the study protocol (including unwillingness to avoid watermelon and other lycopene-rich foods for the whole duration of the study)
- Unable to provide consent
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Interventions
WMJ will be purchased from a commercially available brand. The liquid meal test will be in the form of the Boost nutritional drink (8 fl.oz., vanilla flavor), which is commercially available.
The placebo beverage made of water and sugar will match the sugar content provided in 355 ml of WMJ (approximately 10-20 g). The liquid meal test will be in the form of the Boost nutritional drink (8 fl.oz., vanilla flavor), which is commercially available.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07006636