Clinical Research Directory

Potassium, Hydration, Cardiovascular, and Kidney Study (PHACKs)

Compared with White Adults, Non-Hispanic Black Adults are at an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and end stage chronic-kidney disease (CKD), two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Inadequate hydration status is associated with risk factors for both CVD and CKD. Prior data show that Black individuals are less likely to be adequately hydrated when compared with their White counterparts. Further, socioeconomic factors have been shown to influence hydration practices. Inadequate hydration influences certain hormones that regulate blood volume and impact blood pressure, but increasing potassium intake may provide some positive effects on normalizing these hormones and blood pressure. Black adults, in particular, are more likely to consume less potassium, have inadequate hydration, and tend to have higher blood pressure. As such, there is a critical need for effective strategies to address racial disparities in hydration and resultant health consequences; as well as establish the role of socioeconomic factors contributing to hydration. Therefore, the investigators are seeking to test the investigators' central hypothesis that water with a potassium supplement will improve hydration and cardiovascular health in young White adults (n = 20, 10 females, 10 males), and to a greater extent in young Black Adults (n = 20, 10 females, 10 males. The investigators will assess measures of blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and biomarkers in the urine and blood samples prior to and following a 14-day hydration intervention of 1) bottled water and 2) bottled water with potassium supplementation (2000mg potassium/day).

Interactive Roles of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Adiposity on Glucose and Vascular Control After Physical Inactivity

The far-reaching negative health effects of the reduced physical activity (RPA) epidemic are often overlooked by the general population and health professionals. Short-term RPA induces cardiometabolic dysfunction, including impaired glucose control and vascular function, that may precede disease development. The impact of existing health status on RPA-induced cardiometabolic dysfunction and recovery of impaired glucose control following RPA is unexplored. Thus, the investigators' objectives are 1) to investigate the effect of existing health status (cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity) on the recovery of impaired glucose control following a period of RPA and 2) to determine the role of vascular function as a mechanism of impaired glucose control. The investigators' final objective is to 3) expose undergraduate students to meritorious biomedical clinical research methods. The investigators have piloted the clinical research methods and analysis with undergraduate researcher associates and are well-prepared to complete this proposal. Preliminary data show that low cardiorespiratory fitness and/or high adiposity impair the recovery of glucose control following short-term RPA. Thus, the investigators aim to examine the interactive role of health status (cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity) on the ability to recover impaired glucose control following short-term RPA. The investigators also seek to examine changes in vascular function as a mechanism of recovery of impaired glucose control following a return to normal PA. The investigators will recruit men and women with divergent health status (cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity) to examine glucose control and vascular function during 7-d of normal PA, 7-d of RPA, and 7-d of resumption of normal RA. Continuous glucose monitoring and oral glucose tolerance tests will be performed to assess glucose control. Increases in vascular shear stress induced by passive leg movement and central arterial stiffness will be measured to assess vascular function.