Effects of increased consumption of leaf and stalk vegetables and beetroot on cardiovascular function: VegBP project

INTERVENTION: Vegetable Group 1: Additional consumption of 100 g per day of vegetables from mixed leaf lettuce, beetroot and spinach for a 16‐week intervention period Vegetable Group 2: Additional consumption of 100 g per day of vegetables from yellow tomatoes, peas and sweetcorn for a 16‐week intervention period Vegetable Group 3: Additional consumption of 50 g per day of vegetables from mixed leaf lettuce, beetroot and spinach and 50 g per day of vegetables from peas, sweetcorn and yellow tomatoes for a 16‐week intervention period Follow up length: 6 months Study entry: single randomisation only CONDITION: Topic: Primary Care Research Network for England, Cardiovascular, Generic Health Relevance and Cross Cutting Themes; Subtopic: Not Assigned, Cardiovascular (all Subtopics), Generic Health Relevance (all Subtopics); Disease: Cardiovascular, All Diseases, Public Health Research ; Circulatory System ; Cardiovascular function PRIMARY OUTCOME: Seated Blood Pressure, measured twice within 1 week every 8 weeks over a 24 week period (8 times in total). SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure, measured once every 8 weeks over a 24‐week period (4 measurements in total); 2. C‐reactive protein (CRP) and biochemical markers of endothelial function, measured twice within 1 week every 8 weeks over a 24‐week period (8 times in total); 3. Fasting blood glucose, measured once every 8 weeks over a 24‐week period (4 measurements in total); 4. Fasting blood lipid profile, measured twice within 1 week every 8 weeks over a 24‐week period (8 measurements in total); 5. Flow mediated dilation, measured once every 8 weeks over a 24‐week period (4 measurements in total); 6. Plasma carotenoids and polyphenols, measured twice within 1 week every 8 weeks over a 24‐week period (8 times in total); 7. Weight and body composition, measured once every 8 weeks over a 24‐week period (4 times in total) INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Male or female subjects aged 40 ‐ 75 years 2. Systolic blood pressure in the range 130 ‐ 150 mmHg