University of Alabama, Department of Human Nutrition, Russell Hall, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2021 Sep 22;31(10):2959-2968. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.06.022. Epub 2021 Jul 7.
Watermelon juice is a rich food source of cardioprotective compounds such as arginine, citrulline, and lycopene. Preventative interventions are warranted as risk of cardiovascular disease increases among women after menopause, and age alone is an independent risk factor for vascular dysfunction. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of 100% watermelon juice on measures of vascular function.
In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 21 healthy postmenopausal women were randomized to consume two 360 mL servings of 100% watermelon juice per day or an isocaloric placebo for four weeks. Following a two-week washout period, they consumed the other beverage for an additional four weeks. Before and after each treatment arm, a fasting blood sample was taken for measurement of serum arginine, citrulline, lycopene, glucose, and insulin. Assessments of vascular function included pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, and flow-mediated dilation. General linear mixed models with intent-to-treat analyses were used to examine the effects of the intervention. Despite a significant treatment effect for circulating lycopene (p = 0.002), no changes in arginine, citrulline, or any vascular measures were observed. Although the juice intervention resulted in a slight but significant increase in fasting serum glucose (p = 0.001), changes in glucose homeostasis were not clinically significant.
In contrast to findings from previous studies in younger adults and those with pre-existing hypertension, measures of vascular function in this cohort of healthy postmenopausal women were not impacted by supplemental watermelon juice. CLINICALTRIALS.
NCT03626168.
西瓜汁是一种富含护心化合物的食物来源，如精氨酸、瓜氨酸和番茄红素。由于女性绝经后心血管疾病的风险增加，需要进行预防干预，而年龄本身就是血管功能障碍的一个独立危险因素。因此，本研究评估了 100%西瓜汁对血管功能指标的影响。
在这项随机、双盲、安慰剂对照、交叉试验中，21 名健康绝经后女性被随机分为每天饮用两份 360 毫升 100%西瓜汁或等热量安慰剂，持续四周。在两周洗脱期后，她们再饮用另一种饮料四周。在每个治疗臂之前和之后，抽取空腹血样测量血清精氨酸、瓜氨酸、番茄红素、血糖和胰岛素。血管功能评估包括脉压、脉搏波速度、24 小时动态血压和血流介导的扩张。采用意向治疗分析的一般线性混合模型来检验干预的效果。尽管循环番茄红素有显著的治疗效果（p=0.002），但精氨酸、瓜氨酸或任何血管措施均未观察到变化。尽管果汁干预导致空腹血清葡萄糖略有但显著升高（p=0.001），但血糖稳态的变化没有临床意义。
与先前在年轻成年人和已有高血压的人群中进行的研究结果相反，在这组健康绝经后女性中，血管功能的测量指标不受补充西瓜汁的影响。临床试验.gov 标识符：NCT03626168。
