Watermelon for Metabolic Syndrome

Overseen By Tatiana Diacova, PhD, MS, RDN

Age: Any Age

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles

Must not be taking: Steroids, Anti-inflammatories, Antibiotics, Hormones

Disqualifiers: Non-English, Vegetarian, Watermelon allergy, Chronic disease, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines how drinking watermelon juice might benefit metabolic health and protect skin from UV damage. Researchers aim to determine if this juice can improve blood pressure, heart health, and the body's ability to combat UV damage. Participants will drink watermelon juice daily and have health markers checked immediately after consumption and again after four weeks. Postmenopausal women who are generally healthy and meet specific blood pressure criteria may be suitable for this study. As an unphased trial, it offers participants the chance to contribute to groundbreaking research on natural health solutions.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

You may need to stop taking certain medications or supplements that affect metabolism or gut health, like antibiotics or probiotics, for the study duration. If you're on skin-related prescription medications or steroids, you should not have started them within 30 days before the study. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the study team.

Is there any evidence suggesting that watermelon juice is safe for consumption?

Research shows that watermelon juice is generally safe for people. Studies have found that drinking it can improve heart health and metabolism without causing major side effects. For example, one study found that watermelon juice helped stabilize heart rate, benefiting heart health. Another study found that consuming whole watermelon, including the juice, improved health markers like body fat and blood sugar levels.

These findings suggest that watermelon juice is well-tolerated and may benefit overall health. No major negative effects have been reported in these studies, indicating it is a safe choice for many people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard treatments for metabolic syndrome, which often include medications like metformin or lifestyle changes like diet and exercise, watermelon juice introduces a natural and tasty alternative. Researchers are excited because watermelon juice is packed with citrulline, an amino acid that may improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure, offering potential cardiovascular benefits. Additionally, the treatment is evaluated both for its immediate and long-term effects, which could quickly show results and sustain them over time. This makes watermelon juice a promising and refreshing option for managing metabolic syndrome.

What evidence suggests that watermelon juice might be an effective treatment for metabolic syndrome?

Research has shown that drinking watermelon juice benefits heart and metabolic health. Studies have found that it can increase nitric oxide (NO) levels, improving blood vessel function and potentially lowering blood pressure. Other research suggests that watermelon can enhance sugar processing, which might help control blood sugar levels. Additionally, watermelon juice has been linked to reducing heart disease risk factors, such as body fat and blood sugar levels. One study found that watermelon juice can help prevent a rise in blood pressure after exercise. Overall, early evidence suggests watermelon juice could benefit heart and metabolic health. Participants in this trial will consume watermelon juice to evaluate its acute and chronic effects on metabolic syndrome. ^{2 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of California, Los Angeles

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with metabolic syndrome and concerns about oxidative stress. Participants should be interested in how watermelon juice affects their heart health, blood sugar, cholesterol, and body's defense against cell damage from UV light. Details on specific inclusion or exclusion criteria are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

I have read and signed the consent form and can fully understand it.

I am willing to attend study visits without wearing any makeup or skin products.

Willing to maintain habitual dietary and exercise patterns for the study duration

Exclusion Criteria

I am currently taking hormone replacement therapy.

I have a chronic condition like diabetes, kidney or liver disease, or a history of serious digestive issues.

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)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Standardization

Participants undergo a 2-week standardization phase to control dietary intake before the intervention

2 weeks

Intervention

Participants consume 355 ml of watermelon juice daily to evaluate acute and chronic effects on cardiometabolic health and antioxidant capacity

4 weeks

Baseline and endpoint visits for liquid meal tests

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Watermelon Juice

Trial Overview The study tests if drinking 355 ml of watermelon juice can improve cardiovascular and metabolic health markers immediately and after consistent daily consumption for four weeks. It compares these effects to a sweetened placebo beverage alongside a liquid meal test.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Watermelon Juice + liquid meal test at baseline Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Acute (postprandial) as well as chronic (4 weeks) effects of WMJ consumption will be evaluated. To evaluate acute effects participants will consume a liquid meal test together with WMJ at the beginning of the intervention phase. In addition, the same liquid meal test will be consumed with only WMJ at the end of the intervention phase to assess whether drinking the juice for 4 weeks prior had any effects on postprandial responses.

Group II: Sweetened placebo beverage + liquid meal test at baseline Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Participants will consume placebo beverage + liquid meal test at baseline. They will then consume watermelon juice daily for 4 weeks. Watermelon juice + liquid meal test will be consumed at endpoint.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, Los Angeles

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,594

Recruited

10,430,000+

National Watermelon Promotion Board

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

60+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9967111/

The Effect of Watermelon Juice Supplementation on Heart ... Watermelon consumption can improve NO bioavailability. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial to test the ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07006636

Effect of Watermelon on Cardiometabolic Health The purpose of this study is to determine whether consumption of 355 ml of watermelon juice will: improve cardiovascular and overall metabolic health ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316622020661

Intake of Watermelon or Its Byproducts Alters Glucose ... Glucose metabolism improved in all watermelon-supplemented treatment groups compared with the HF-fed control group, with fasting blood glucose concentrations ...

4. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijpo.13038

Blenderized watermelon consumption decreases body ... Conclusions. The results support that BWM consumption improved some cardiometabolic risk factors including BMI, BMIP, body fat, and HbA1c.

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09637486.2019.1675604

Effect of acute watermelon juice supplementation on post ... These results support the ability of watermelon juice to prevent a post-exercise increase in BP in healthy non-athletic females. Additional ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8562079/

Supplemental Watermelon Juice Attenuates Acute ... Citrulline and citrulline-rich watermelon juice can increase the circulating arginine pool and increase the activation of NO synthase to a greater degree than ...

7. repository.lsu.edu repository.lsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1493&context=nutrition_pubs

The Effect of Watermelon Juice Supplementation on Heart ... We report that WMJ supplementation attenuates OGC-induced reductions in HRV. Future work should emphasize the importance of NO bioavailability ...