Can a Plant-Based diet restore blood flow in the Heart's small vessels?

NCT ID NCT07821372

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First seen Sep 15, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers at Emory University are testing whether a fully provided, unrefined, polyphenol-rich plant-based diet can improve blood vessel function in adults with coronary microvascular dysfunction, a condition where the heart's small vessels cannot deliver enough blood despite clear major arteries. About 20 postmenopausal women with the condition will follow the diet for 12 weeks while continuing their usual medical care. The study measures changes in blood vessel function, symptoms, blood pressure, and cholesterol to see whether the diet helps.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
a fully provided, polyphenol-rich, unrefined plant-based diet
What this could lead to
If it works, a structured plant-based diet could become a low-risk way to help people with coronary microvascular dysfunction improve blood vessel function and ease symptoms.
What could go wrong
This is a small, 20-person study with no control group, so any improvements could reflect other factors. Diet changes are hard to sustain, and the results may not apply to everyone with this condition.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 20 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Oct 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Jan 2028

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

45 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Women must be postmenopausal. * History of angina, ischemic symptoms, or symptoms consistent with ischemia in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. * No obstructive coronary artery disease (\<50% stenosis in any epicardial coronary artery or fractional flow reserve \>0.80). * Clinically documented coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), including coronary flow reserve \<2.5 and/or index of microcirculatory resistance ≥25, or equivalent documentation in the medical record. * Stable cardiometabolic medication regimen for at least 2 months before enrollment. * Willingness to consume the study-provided plant-based diet and complete all study procedures. * Ability to provide informed consent Exclusion: * Obstructive coronary artery disease or prior coronary revascularization (PCI or CABG). * Recent acute coronary syndrome, unstable angina, decompensated heart failure, or other clinically unstable cardiovascular disease. * Significant structural heart disease, uncontrolled arrhythmia, severe uncontrolled hypertension, or symptomatic hypotension. * Severe renal disease (eGFR \<30 mL/min/1.73 m²) or significant liver disease. * Current vegetarian or vegan diet, or habitual consumption of ≤4 servings of animal products per week. * Severe food allergies, dietary restrictions, or gastrointestinal conditions that would prevent adherence to the study diet. * Current use of weight-loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. * Active eating disorder. * Recent (\>5%) intentional or unintentional weight change within the previous 3 months. * Participation in another interventional study that could affect study outcomes. * Any medical, psychiatric, or social condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would make participation unsafe or interfere with study completion.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

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How to take part

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Emory University

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States

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