Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Increased blood pressure (hypertension) is widely accepted as a major cardiovascular risk factor. The reduction in blood pressure reduces the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Even a 2 mmHg lower usual SBP would lead to about 10% lower stroke mortality and about 7% lower mortality from ischaemic heart disease or other vascular causes in middle age and the reduction of SBP for 10 mmHg lower usual or 5 mmHg lower usual DBP would, in the long term, be associated with about 40% lower risk of stroke death and about 30% lower risk of death from vascular causes. The aim of this study is to assess a probiotic dietary supplement on blood pressure reduction.
Who can participate?
Generally healthy people, age 18–65 years, with an increase in blood pressure, who do not take medications.
What does the study involve?
The study population will be recruited from an already existing population (encoded) from the database. Additionally, participants will be recruited through media and social networks (e.g., facebook), and e-mail lists of various professional associations. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two arms for 8 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of washout: Lactobacillus plantarum TENSIA (150 mg per capsule) or control (placebo product in capsulated form containing microcellulose).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The study causes minimal inconveniences to participants. As blood samples are taken by an experienced nurse, the procedure is safe. However, there may be bruising and discomfort at the site of the blood test as with any blood test. The amounts of blood we are taking are small enough that they should not make you feel fatigue or cause anaemia. Study participants receive assessment of their health status and, if necessary, free consultation of a nutritionist and/or a specialist.
Where is the study run from?
Centre for Clinical and Physiological Research of the Bio-Competence Centre of Healthy Dairy Products LLC (Estonia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From April 2014 to December 2018
Who is funding the study?
Bio-Competence Centre of Healthy Dairy Products LLC (Estonia)
Who is the main contact?
Ms Merle Rätsep
merle.ratsep@tptak.ee
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Epp Songisepp
ORCID ID
Contact details
Kreutzwaldi str 1
Tartu
51014
Estonia
+372 7 374175
esongisepp@gmail.com
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
235/T-11
Study information
Scientific title
Effect of a dietary supplement containing Lactobacillus plantarum TENSIA on the subpopulation with high-normal blood pressure: a randomised controlled double-blind phase 2 study
Acronym
TEN
Study hypothesis
The consumption of a dietary supplement containing Lactobacillus plantarum TENSIA helps to maintain the normal blood pressure by reducing high-normal (systolic) blood pressure
Ethics approval
Ethics Review Committee on Human Research of the University of Tartu, 17/03/2014, reference number 235/T-11
Study design
Randomised controlled double-blind phase 2 study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
GP practices
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Condition
High-normal (130–139/85–89 mmHg) baseline blood pressure
Intervention
1. Healthy volunteers will be randomly allocated according to a random number table to one of two study arms and will take one capsule per day for 8 weeks followed by 2 weeks of washout:
1.1. Lactobacillus plantarum TENSIA 150 mg/day (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose): 7000 million colony-forming units
1.2. Control: placebo product in capsulated form containing microcellulose
2. Blood pressure, waist circumference, and bodyweight will be measured
3. Participants will be asked to assess their wellbeing and gastrointestinal effects, and provide blood, urine and fecal samples at every visit
Intervention type
Supplement
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 8 weeks from baseline:
1. Measurements will be done with a mercury sphygmomanometer (Riester No 1002 DIPLOMAT presameter, Rudolf Riester GmbH, Germany)
2. Subjects will be instructed to avoid any strenuous exercise and stimulants (alcohol, caffeine) for at least 24 hours before any BP measurement and refrain from cold exposure, food and fluid intake and smoking for at least 1 hour before any BP measurement
3. All measurements will be done at the same time of day per subject and within 07:00 hours and 13:00 hours for all subjects by a properly trained practicing nurse at the Tartu University Clinics
Secondary outcome measures
1. Change in SBP at 4 weeks from baseline
2. Change in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 8 weeks from baseline
3. Change in DBP at 4 weeks from baseline
4. Change in SBP at 8 weeks from level at 4 weeks
5. Change in DBP at 8 weeks from level at 4 weeks
Measurements will be done with a mercury sphygmomanometer (Riester No 1002 DIPLOMAT presameter, Rudolf Riester GmbH, Germany); subjects will be instructed to avoid any strenuous exercise and stimulants (alcohol, caffeine) for at least 24 hours before any BP measurement and refrain from cold exposure, food and fluid intake and smoking for at least 1 hour before any BP measurement; and all measurements will be done at the same time of day per subject and within 07:00 hours and 13:00 hours for all subjects by a properly trained practicing nurse at the Tartu University Clinics
Overall trial start date
01/04/2014
Overall trial end date
31/12/2018
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Desire to participate
2. Age 18–65 years
3. High-normal (130–139/85–89 mmHg) screening blood pressure
4. Normal or not clinically significant deviations in safety laboratory values (clinical chemistry, blood count), white blood cell count <8800 million/L, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein <5 mg/L; fasting glucose <6.0mmol/L, serum creatinine in females <80 μmol/L, serum creatinine in males <106 μmol/L, glycated haemoglobin < 5.9%
5. No use of any concomitant treatment including blood pressure lowering drugs (e.g., angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, blockers of beta adrenergic receptors, calcium channel blockers and diuretics) and lipid-lowering drugs (e.g., statins, bile acid sequestrates, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, nicotinic acid) that could affect the evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of the investigational study product within 1 month before the study start.
6. Signed informed consent
7. Willingness to maintain a stable diet and physical activity level
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
300 persons, 150 subjects in each arm
Participant exclusion criteria
1. History of any gastrointestinal disease
2. Use of any antimicrobial drug within past month
3. Use of any regular concomitant medication, including medical preparations, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antioxidant vitamins
4. Food allergy
5. Diabetes and acute infection
6. Pregnancy or breastfeeding
7. SBP ≤ 129 mmHg and/or DBP ≤ 84 mmHg
7.1. Hypertension (≥140–159 / 90–99 mmHg)
7.2. History or clinical signs of cardiovascular abnormalities (e.g., stroke), particularly cardiac arrhythmia and bradycardia (pulse rate <50 beats per minute)
Recruitment start date
01/09/2014
Recruitment end date
30/09/2018
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Estonia
Trial participating centre
BioCC
Riia 181A
Tartu
51014
Estonia
Sponsor information
Organisation
Bio-Competence Centre of Healthy Dairy Products LLC
Sponsor details
Kreutzwaldi 1
Tartu
51014
Estonia
Sponsor type
Research organisation
Website
Funders
Funder type
Not defined
Funder name
Bio-Competence Centre of Healthy Dairy Products LLC Project EU 30002
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
1. Presentation of results at 9th Probiotics, Prebiotics, New Foods in September 2017, Rome (Italy)
2. Publication after December 2018 (e.g., in Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology, Beneficial Mircobes, special issue of the Journal of Pharmaceuticals)
Intention to publish date
31/12/2018
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list