An interventional study of Control porridge with no condiments and Porridge with light soya sauce in Elevated Blood Pressure, Vascular Health and Sensory Evaluation, sponsored by Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation. Recruiting at 1 site in Singapore. Open to participants aged 50 Years to 75 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-09.
Sponsored by Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
This research aims to develop an evidence-based classification for sodium-rich condiments (natremic index) based on their CVD-related risks. It is hypothesised that the acute cardiovascular and physiological response (effectively extrapolated to long-term CVD risks) to meals prepared with various sodium-rich condiments can be leveraged upon for the development of such an index that will systematically classify sodium-rich condiments based on the risk they present to cardiovascular health.
Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in older adults. While absolute dietary sodium reductions remain vital for prevention, effective long-term management must take stock of sensorial efficacy and acceptance, alongside the corresponding impacts on health. In Asia, this phenomenon is distinct due to a genetic predisposition of the population to salt sensitivity (increased risk), and a distinct food culture characterised by regional condiments (e.g. soy sauce, fermented bean paste).
The aim of this research is to develop an evidence-based classification for sodium-rich condiments (natremic index) based on their CVD-related risks. Perceived saltiness intensity is influenced by factors beyond the total amount of sodium consumed (e.g. flavour enhancers like MSG, tastes synergism etc.).
Similarly, while hypertension is predisposed by excessive sodium intake, growing evidence also suggests the potential role of bioactive compounds and ingredients (including some identified from Asian-style condiments e.g. spices, soya-derived flavonoids) that may elicit cardiovascular protective properties.
Contrary to generic recommendations that focused solely on absolute sodium reduction, sustainable solutions must simultaneously address concerns surrounding long-term health and consumer acceptance.
Much like the well-established glycemic index, it is hypothesised that the development of a natremic index, designed to evaluate and classify sodium-rich condiments according to their risks to cardiovascular health will serve as a vital, first of its kind strategy that can reliably guide public health recommendations, and spearhead next-generation innovations in the food and nutrition industry. The proposed research is split into two main parts that will investigate in detail three sodium-rich condiments commonly used in Asia cuisines: light soy sauce (condiment 1), fermented bean paste (condiment 2), and table salt (control), from sensory and health perspectives
6,114 studies on the registry are indexed under Hypertension; 912 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 32 is below the median of 100 across 4,575 interventional studies indexed under Hypertension.
Browse Hypertension studies →Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation is the lead sponsor of 69 studies on the registry; 4 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Postmenopausal
Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HbA1c
A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis B tests
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
This arm will consist of plain porridge which participants will consume.
Other: Control porridge with no condiments
This arm will consist of plain porridge with light soya sauce which participants will consume.
Other: Porridge with light soya sauce
This arm will consist of plain porridge with fermented bean paste which participants will consume.
Other: Porridge with fermented bean paste
This arm will consist of plain porridge with table salt which participants will consume.
Other: Porridge with table salt
To examine acute cardiovascular health response to plain porridge.
To examine acute cardiovascular health response to plain porridge with saltiness-matched light soya sauce
To examine acute cardiovascular health response to plain porridge with saltiness-matched fermented bean paste
To examine acute cardiovascular health response to plain porridge with saltiness-matched table salt.
Endopat assessment
EndoPAT test which will measure endothelial health and function at baseline. The EndoPAT test is a non-invasive procedure that involves the placement of probes on each index finger, followed by blood pressure cuff inflation for measurements of the arterial tone and blood flow responses (e.g. EndoPAT index).
Time frame: EndoPAT assessments which will serve as the primary outcome of interest will be measured at postprandial intervals (up to 3 measurements) over 4 hours.
Ambulatory blood pressure
The ambulatory blood pressure monitor will be attached and programmed for blood pressure measurements at pre-determined intervals. Blood pressure measurements will be taken at 15 minutes interval during the postprandial study duration (4 hours), 30 minutes interval (after the 4 hours) when participant is awake, and hourly when the participants are asleep. During each measurement, participants must be standing, seated or lie still, stay relaxed and silent. If seated they should keep their feet flat on the floor (not crossed).
Time frame: 24 hour period consisting of: Postprandially 15 minutes intervals (over 4 hours), 30 minutes interval (after 4 hours)
Palatability questionnaire rated on a visual analogue scale "Good" to "Bad"
Palatability appetite questionnaire, rated on a visual analogue scale. To place a vertical mark on the thick line to indicate how person feels at that moment in response to various questions. At opposite ends of each line are descriptors which should be read carefully before placing the vertical line.
Time frame: Test meal is consumed for 15 minutes. At the end of 15 minutes, palatibility questionnaire is completed.
Serum and Plasma sodium and potassium
Serum and plasma collected are for sodium and potassium assessment
Time frame: Blood will be sampled at timepoints, t = 0 minute (Baseline) and at t = 30, 45, 60, 120, 180, 240 minute for each session
Subjective appetite questionnaire
Subjective appetite questionnaire, rated on a 0-100 visual analogue scale. 0 corresponds to "not at all" and 100 corresponds to "extremely".Questions usually used are "How hungry are you?" "How full are you?" "How strong is your desire to eat?" "How much food do you think you could eat?"
Time frame: t=0 minute (Baseline), and t= 30, 45, 60, 120, 180, 240 minute for each session.
Taste acuity test
Sensory method to assess participant's recognition, detection and aversion threshold for sweet, salty, umami, sour and bitter taste. Up to 25 samples (approximately 10 milimetre each) will be evaluated per test session.
Time frame: Test administered once at each session (5 sessions). Each test takes 20 minutes.
Ultrasound scan of carotid intima-media thickness
The ultrasound scan measures the thickness of the carotid intima-media layers on the side of the neck which is a marker for CVD risk
Time frame: At baseline only
Evaluation
Participants will taste up to 25 test samples (undosed or dosed with various condiments with varying concentrations). A mandatory inter-stimulus break of one-minute is enforced between each sample to reduce possible fatigue and allow time for palate cleansing. The QDA method features participants rating pre-defined sensory attributes (e.g. salty taste intensity) on a 0-100 VAS scale. During sample evaluation, participants will be instructed to place the entire sample in their mouth, hold it in, swirl for 5 seconds before swallowing, then rate the taste intensity of the sample marked from 'low' (0) to 'high' (100) on a scale in Compusense
Time frame: Administered during session4, 5 and 6. Each evaluation takes1 hour.There is a 1-minute inter-stimulus break between each sample for palate cleansing.
Health and lifestyle relevant questionnaire to to assess eligibility for inclusion/exclusion criteria.
This is to evaluate the participants eligibility for the study. Section A: Participant information, Section B: Medical and Health History, Section C: Lifestyle and Diet. Section A, B and C are questions with "Yes" or "No" to be answered. Section D: Physical Acitvity where participants select only one description that best represents their usual physical activity for leisure over the past 3 months.
Time frame: This is conducted at the Screening Visit, 1 time only. Takes 15 minutes to complete.
3 day food records
Dietary intake will be assessed by documenting all foods and beverages consumed over 3 consecutive days, typically including 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day. Participants will record all foods and beverages consumed using household measures.
Time frame: Administered once during whole study. Record 3 days of food intake (over 72 hours). Recording can range from 5-15 minutes for every meal recorded (recording duration depends on how many meals to be recorded for the day)
Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS)
The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) is a validated, self-administered questionnaire used to assess the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms. It consists of 15 items grouped into five symptom domains: reflux, abdominal pain, indigestion, diarrhoea, and constipation. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (no discomfort) to 7 (very severe discomfort). Higher scores indicate greater gastrointestinal symptom severity.
Time frame: Administered once over the course of the study. Takes about 1-2 minutes to complete each item.
Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ)- Rate items like appetite quality, fullness, hunger, taste of food, and eating frequency on a 5-point Likert scale (e.g., from "very poor" to "very good"). A total score is often used.
An 8-item self-reported appetite assessment tool used in clinical research to evaluate appetite status.
Time frame: Administered only once over the course of the study. Takes about 1-2 minutes to complete each item.
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)- Self-rated items,combined to generate 7 component scores to obtain a global PSQI score ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality
Validated, self-administered questionnaire used to assess subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbances over the previous 1 month.
Time frame: Administered only once over the course of the study. Takes about 1-2 minutes to complete each item
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Sep 2025 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Sep 2026, 12 months after the start.
Of 1,403 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Hypertension, half reached primary completion within 23 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 41. This study's planned 12 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 1,498 studies reached it within 23 months; a quarter within 10 and three quarters within 41.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
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Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation