Biomarkers for plant-rich diets and their links to heart health
Official title: Identification of Biomarkers of Plant-Rich Diets and Carbonyl Stress and Their Associations with Cardiovascular Risk
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11417258 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests whether biomarkers in urine and blood can show if a person is following a plant-rich diet and whether this relates to lower heart disease risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $638,510 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL178035-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417258 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults without major comorbidities for the crossover trial (healthy individuals) and adults with cardiovascular disease for observational profiling.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who cannot follow a plant-rich diet due to medical or personal constraints may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will give participants different flavonoid-rich eating patterns and measure how flavonoid metabolites form in urine and blood over time. They will use targeted metabolomics to identify novel metabolites related to carbonyl stress and oxidative stress and see if a plant-rich diet reduces harmful markers like advanced glycation end products. The study also includes profiling urinary flavonoid metabolites in people with cardiovascular disease to understand real-world patterns. The findings could help us track diet adherence more accurately and link dietary choices with heart health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have better tools to monitor and improve adherence to heart-healthy, plant-rich diets.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests flavonoids influence inflammation and metabolism, and this study builds on that by identifying concrete biomarkers of intake and effect.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hu, Frank B — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Hu, Frank B
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.