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Stearic Acid and Endothelial Function
Sponsor: Florida State University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the postprandial and long-term effects of dietary stearic acid on vascular function in overweight or obese adult males and females aged 40-70 years. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does consuming a high stearic acid-rich meal improve postprandial vascular function compared to a high oleic acid-rich meal? 2. Does a 14-day stearic acid-rich diet improve fasting vascular function compared to an oleic acid-rich diet? 3. Does a 14-day stearic acid-rich diet reduce the impairment of postprandial vascular function following a high palmitic-acid challenge meal? Participants will: * Complete screening questionnaires, a 3-day food log, body composition measurements, and fasting blood and urine tests. * Consume a provided, 14-day controlled diet high in palmitic acid while avoiding outside food and beverages other than water. * Be randomly assigned to consume a provided 14-day diet high in either stearic acid (cocoa butter blend) or oleic acid (plant oil blend). * Attend two 5-hour testing visits at the clinic after overnight fasting. * Undergo intravenous (IV) catheter placement for repeated blood sampling and non-invasive vascular health assessments (ultrasound artery checks and pulse measurements). * Consume assigned high-fat test meals within 15 minutes and undergo hourly vascular and blood assessments over a 4-hour period.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
40 Years - 70 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2026-10-01
Completion Date
2027-08
Last Updated
2026-09-21
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
High Palmitic Acid Diet
On this intervention, participants will be given a diet rich in palmitic acid (\~35% kcal/d palm stearin) for 14 days.
Stearic Acid Test Meal
Participants will be given a test meal containing 50 g of stearic acid-rich (\~90/\~10% cocoa butter / high-linoleic sunflower oil) fat.
Oleic Acid Test Meal
Participants will be given a test meal with 50 g of oleic acid-rich (\~55/\~45% palm olein / high-oleic sunflower oil) fat.
High Stearic Acid Diet
Participants will be given a high stearic acid-rich diet (\~35% kcal/d \~90/\~10% cocoa butter / high-linoleic sunflower oil mixture) for 14 days total.
High Oleic Acid Diet
Participants will be given a high oleic acid-rich (\~35% kcal/d \~55/\~45% palm olein / high-oleic sunflower oil mixture) for 14 days total.
Palmitic Acid Test Meal
Participants will be given a test meal containing 50 g of stearic acid-rich (50g palm oil) fat.
Locations (1)
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida, United States