Source: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
POTENTIAL EFFECT OF RAMPS (ALLIUM TRICOCCUM) ON INFLAMMATION AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN ADULTS WITH SALT-SENSITIVE AND SALT-RESISTANT PREHYPERTENSION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1018664
Grant No.
2019-67018-29286
Cumulative Award Amt.
$198,116.00
Proposal No.
2018-08004
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Mar 15, 2019
Project End Date
Mar 14, 2023
Grant Year
2019
Program Code
[A1341]- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health: Function and Efficacy of Nutrients
Recipient Organization
WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
886 CHESTNUT RIDGE RD RM 202
MORGANTOWN,WV 26505-2742
Performing Department
Davis College of Agriculture
Non Technical Summary
Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and death in the United States. One in three Americans has hypertension, and another one-third has pre-hypertension. The condition is uncontrolled in nearly 35 million Americans. Low-sodium diets are effective in people who are salt-sensitive;but, dietary adherence is low. Sustained uncontrolled hypertension has deleterious effects on the kidney, brain and heart, and the condition costs the nation $48.6 billion each year. Given the high prevalence of the condition and its well-recognized adverse consequences, there isan urgent need toidentify dietary strategies that reducehypertension and its complications. In the absence of such strategies,chronically high blood pressurewill continue to have detrimental effects on human health and quality of life, and pose financial burdens to families and healthcare systems. Epidemiological studies suggest that plant polyphenols have both anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive potential. Allium tricoccum (ramps or wild leeks)native to forests in the eastern U.S. contain phenolic compounds, including organosulfurs and flavonoids, that have been associated with anti-inflammatory and antihypertensive activities. However, little is known about the plant's chemical composition, andhistorically reported health benefits have yet to be confirmed.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
80%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
70214511010100%
Knowledge Area
702 - Requirements and Function of Nutrients and Other Food Components;

Subject Of Investigation
1451 - Onion, garlic, leek, shallot;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;
Goals / Objectives
Our long-term research goal is to contribute toward the development of effective dietary strategies that include polyphenol-rich whole foods to prevent inflammation associated with hypertension. Our overall objective of this projectis to evaluate the effectiveness of a whole food, ramps, on inflammatory markers implicated in hypertension and on blood pressure in people with salt-sensitive and salt-resistant prehypertension.We propose the following specific aims:Aim 1: To determine the nutrient and phytochemical composition of a freeze-dried ramp powderAim 2: To evaluate the effect of freeze-dried ramps on primary outcomes (inflammatory markers and blood pressure) in humans with salt-sensitive and salt-resistant prehypertension.
Project Methods
Aim 1 Methods: Nutritional composition, phytochemical compounds, and antioxidant activity of ramp powder will be determined using GC-MS and/or LC/MS and published protocols.Aim 2 Methods: We will use an assessor-blinded randomized, two-period, crossover design to evaluate the effect of freeze-dried ramps on primary outcomes (inflammatory markers and blood pressure) in humans with salt-sensitive and salt-resistant prehypertension. Randomization will be stratified by type of hypertension (salt-sensitivity and salt-resistant). Participants will receive treatment (freeze-dried ramp powder reconstituted in water) and no treatment control each for 6 weeks separated by a 3-week washout period. Outcome measures will be assessed pre- and post-treatment period for both treatment and the control periods.

Progress 03/15/19 to 03/14/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Scientific community Changes/Problems:A major problemwas that we could not harvest ramps in season 2as the growing season fell when there were stay-at-home orders due to the covid-19 pandemic. The start of the human trial is postponed until the University guidelines permit research of this type on and off campus. Ramp collection and processing resumed the following year with a no-cost extension. Multiple collaborators left their positions post covid.Inthe time remaining, we were not able to reestablish arecruitment network and conduct the clinical portion of the study. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During year 1, graduate and undergraduate students were trained on plant analysis. Year 2: graduate students were trained on scientific writing, plant processing, IRB, RedCap, and survey design. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Year 1 results were desseminated to the scientific community through publication in scientific journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Aim 1 was completed during year 1 of the project. The project was at a standstill during year two due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Aim 2 was not completed as a result or Covid-related delays, lack of available student workers on campus, and change in the work status of multiple collaborators.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Dabeek W and Marra M. Dietary Quercetin and Kaempferol: Bioavailability and Potential Cardiovascular-related Bioactivity. Nutrients. 2019;11(10), 2288.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Dabeek W, Kovinich N, Walsh C, and Marra MV. Characterization and Quantification of Major Flavonol Glycosides in Ramps. (Allium tricoccum). Molecules. 2019, 24(18), 3281.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Dabeek D. Characterization of Flavonoids in Ramps. [master's thesis], 2019.


Progress 03/15/21 to 03/14/22

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:Project was delayed due to covid-19 pandemic. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Start the human trial as that had been delayed due to covid-19 pandemic.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Development of freeze-dried ramp power for human trial.

Publications


    Progress 03/15/20 to 03/14/21

    Outputs
    Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems:The human trial activities werehalted due to the Covid-19 pandemic this year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Human trial was halted due to Covid-19 pandemic.

    Publications


      Progress 03/15/19 to 03/14/20

      Outputs
      Target Audience:Scientific community Changes/Problems:A major problem was that we were not able to harvest ramps this year as the season fell during a time when there were stay-at-home orders due to the covid-19 pandemic. The start of the human trial is postponed until the University guidelines permit research of this type on and off campus. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Trained two graduate students and one undergraduate student. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Two manuscriptswere published in peer-reviewed journals. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The human trial is on hold due to covid-19. We will resume the human trial when the University resumes human trial research off and onsite.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? Aim 1: Determined the majorflavonols in the freeze-dried ramp powder, and conducted a preliminary quantification of the flavonols.

      Publications

      • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Dabeek W, Kovinich N, Walsh C, and Marra MV. Characterization and Quantification of Major Flavonol Glycosides in Ramps. (Allium tricoccum). Molecules. 2019, 24(18), 3281.
      • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Dabeek W and Marra M. Dietary Quercetin and Kaempferol: Bioavailability and Potential Cardiovascular-related Bioactivity. Nutrients. 2019;11(10), 2288.
      • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Dabeek D. Characterization of Flavonoids in Ramps. [master's thesis], 2019.