Impact of Lean Pork on Endothelial Function in Perimenopause

Study Summary

The goal of this study is to examine the impact of a diet high in fresh lean pork, compared to a plant-based diet, on cardiovascular function and vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal women with overweight and obesity. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How does a diet high in pork, compared to a plant-based diet, affects blood lipids, endothelial function, and blood pressure? 2. How does a diet high in pork, compared to a plant-based diet, affects blood nitrate, cardiometabolic biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, and vasomotor symptoms? Researchers will compare the diet high in pork to a plant-based diet to see if pork helps improve cardiovascular and mesopause symptoms. Participants will: * Consume both of the diets, each for 4 weeks, with a washout period between 2 and 6 weeks in between the diets trials * Visit the clinic 5 times with weekly meal pick ups during the diet trials * Undergo testing procedures including: weight and body composition, blood pressure and pulse, endothelial function using ultrasound of upper arm, microvascular blood flow, blood draws, physical activity measurements, and questionnaires.

Primary Outcome

Macrovascular function will be measured by endothelial function. Investigators will use brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) using ultrasound. Ultrasound images will be captured (Cardiovascular Suit 4, QUIPU, Pisa, Italy) at three time points 1) end-diastole for each cardiac cycle at baseline (\~30 s), 2) during occlusion (\~5 min), and 3) after occlusion (\~5 min). The shear rate will be calculated for each cardiac cycle as 8 × mean blood velocity/ diameter, and the shear rate area unde

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Pork Diet
• BEHAVIORAL Plant Diet

Study Locations (1)