Effect of Watermelon on Gut and Cardiometabolic Health

NCT ID: NCT06588218

Last Updated: 2025-10-15

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-10-13

Study Completion Date

2026-08-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effect of daily fresh watermelon consumption for 6-weeks on gut health, including microbiome diversity, gut barrier and immune function in young adults with overweight and obesity. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Will consuming fresh watermelon daily for 6-weeks will improve intestinal barrier health and increase microbiome diversity such as an increased population of beneficial 'probiotic' bacteria when compared to control participants consuming a low-fat snack?
2. Will consuming fresh watermelon daily for six-weeks will improve other health measures, including body-composition, blood pressure, blood vessel function, blood lipid profiles, and measures of inflammation, as compared to control participants consuming a low-fat snack for the same time period?

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Obesity and Overweight Dysbiosis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Watermelon Condition

This group will maintain a normal diet supplemented with 2.5 cups (\~375 grams, 115 kcals, 0.5g fat, 1.5g fiber, 17,225mcg lycopene, 30.75mg vitamin C) of fresh watermelon daily for six weeks

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Watermelon

Intervention Type OTHER

2.5 cups of whole fresh watermelon (\~375 grams, 115 kcals, 0.5g fat, 1.5g fiber, 17,225mcg lycopene, 30.75mg vitamin C) of fresh watermelon daily for six weeks

Control Condition

This group will maintain a normal diet supplemented with an isocaloric control snack (Belvita breakfast sandwich; 115 kcals, 1.5g fiber, 4.5g fat, 0mg lycopene, 0mg vitamin C) as well as 12 ounces of water

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Belvita Breakfast Sandwich + 12 oz Water

Intervention Type OTHER

Belvita breakfast sandwich; 115 kcals, 1.5g fiber, 4.5g fat, 0mg lycopene, 0mg vitamin C) as well as 12 ounces of water

Interventions

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Watermelon

2.5 cups of whole fresh watermelon (\~375 grams, 115 kcals, 0.5g fat, 1.5g fiber, 17,225mcg lycopene, 30.75mg vitamin C) of fresh watermelon daily for six weeks

Intervention Type OTHER

Belvita Breakfast Sandwich + 12 oz Water

Belvita breakfast sandwich; 115 kcals, 1.5g fiber, 4.5g fat, 0mg lycopene, 0mg vitamin C) as well as 12 ounces of water

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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Whole Watermelon Diced Watermelon Isocaloric Snack Breakfast Sandwich Control Snack

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Between 18 and 30 years old
* Ability to speak and read in English
* Overweight or Obese Class 1 and 2 (BMI ≥ 25 - 39.9 kg/m2)

Exclusion Criteria

* Intake of antibiotics in the last 3 months
* Intake of pre/pro/postbiotics in the last 3 months
* Current or past (within the last 6 months) user of tobacco, marijuana, or E-cigarette products
* Cardiovascular disease (will not exclude for hypertension), gastrointestinal disease (ulcerative colitis, celiac, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, peptic ulcers, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, short bowel syndrome), neurological (multiple sclerosis, meningitis, recent stroke) or endocrine disorders (uncontrolled thyroid disorders, growth hormone disorders, adrenal gland disorders, uncontrolled diabetes - A1C greater than 9%).
* Food allergy to study foods
* Any allergy to melon
* Any allergy to the isocaloric snack (gluten)
* Regular consumption of watermelon greater than 2 servings / week
* Current heavy alcohol use (≥ 15 drinks / week for men, ≥ 8 drinks / week for women
* Class 3 Obesity (BMI \> 40 kg/m2)
* Current user of Citrulline, Arginine, Nitric Oxide or other supplements known to affect nitric oxide synthesis (beet root juice or any beet supplement, Pycnogenol / Pine bark extract)
* Known to be currently pregnant (self-disclosed)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Florida State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ravi Nagpal

PI

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ravinder Nagpal, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Florida State University

Locations

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Florida State University - Gut Biome Lab

Tallahassee, Florida, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Ravinder Nagpal, PhD

Role: CONTACT

850-644-1829

Cole Patoine, M.S

Role: CONTACT

Facility Contacts

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Jania Kadar

Role: primary

+1-850-644-1828

Other Identifiers

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STUDY00005203

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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