NCT04608747

Tahini, Antioxidant Status and Endothelial Function

Completed NA Last updated 30 October 2020

What this trial tests

NA trial testing Tahini in Oxidative Stress in 20 participants. Completed in 31 July 2020.

Timeline

2 January 2020

Primary endpoint
31 July 2020

31 July 2020

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Harokopio University
Phase	NA
Status	Completed
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	prevention
Enrollment	20
Start date	2 January 2020
Primary completion	31 July 2020
Estimated completion	31 July 2020
Sites	1 location across Greece

Drugs / interventions tested

• Tahini

Conditions studied

• Oxidative Stress — all drugs for Oxidative Stress →
• Endothelial Function — all drugs for Endothelial Function →
• Blood Pressure — all drugs for Blood Pressure →
• Arterial Stiffness — all drugs for Arterial Stiffness →

Sponsor

Harokopio University

Who can join

Adults 20 to 40, male only, with Oxidative Stress or Endothelial Function. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), a cluster of disorders that affect heart and blood vessels, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world and is responsible for 17.9 million deaths annually worldwide. CVD risk factors can be modifiable (nutrition, physical activity, obesity, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes) and non-modifiable (age, gender, ethnicity, family history and socioeconomic status). Chronic exposure to CVD risk factors induces oxidative stress and promotes inflammation. In addition, endothelial cells in response to the inflammatory reaction secrete growth factors, leading to the destruction of vascular endothelium and promoting atherogenesis.

Oxidative stress refers to the imbalance between anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant compounds, with predominance of the pro-oxidant ones. Reactive Oxygen Species overproduction has been implicated in pathogenesis and complications of numerous diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and chronic kidney disease.

Moreover, endothelium consists of a single layer of endothelial cells; it is the natural barrier between blood and tissues and also an endocrine organ. It plays a key role in vascular homeostasis by maintaining a balance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction and is responsible for fluid filtration, blood vessel tone, hormone trafficking, hemostasis, regulation of blood flow and growth of blood vessels. Thus, reductions in endothelial function are detrimental and predict and precede the development of overt CVD.

Sesame belongs to Pedaliaceae family and can be consumed in different forms such as seeds, oil or tahini, i.e., a 100 % peeled, ground and roasted sesame paste. Sesame seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, vitamin E and lignans, such as sesamin, sesamolin and sesamol. Recent studies have highlighted the antioxidant, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic and appetite control properties of sesame seeds and sesame oil.

Regarding the consumption of tahini and its effect on human health, only three studies are available in the current literature, one of them in patients with type 2 diabetes, one in diabetic animal model and one in Alzheimer's disease animal model. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of tahini consumption on oxidative stress, blood pressure, endothelial function and arterial stiffness in healthy males postprandially.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

1. Management and Prevention of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Can Antioxidant-Rich Dietary Interventions Help?
   Nagpal D, Nema S, Nagpal S, Pandey MM, et al · · 2025 · cited 2× · PMID 41008984 · DOI 10.3390/antiox14091078