CHronic HypERtension and L-citRulline studY (CHERRY)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility study on the effects of L-citrulline on uteroplacental and cardiovascular function in hypertensive pregnant women
IRAS ID
198661
Contact name
Jenny Myers
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Eudract number
2016-001913-26
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Chronic hypertension affects 2% of pregnancies and is associated with significant risks for both mother and baby. There is a 1 in 4 chance that complications will arise in pregnancy (pre-eclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction) necessitating a preterm delivery.
Oral L-citrulline is an amino acid supplement which has been associated with an improvement in blood pressure and blood vessel function. In a phase I study of 24 obese pregnant women, 3 weeks treatment of L-Citrulline (3g/day) was associated with a significant reduction in blood pressure, which persisted after the treatment had ceased until the end of pregnancy. There was also a marked change in factors involved in blood vessel function, which are altered in pregnancies complicated by placental dysfunction, at several time points over pregnancy. This suggests a potential beneficial effect of oral L-citrulline on placental and/or vessel function.
The potential use of an amino acid supplement, which is safe, readily available and of relatively low-cost, represents an appealing intervention for the long-term management of chronic hypertensive diseases, especially in pregnancy where the number of treatment options might be more limited, and non-pharmacological interventions are more acceptable. At present, there is no information regarding either the efficacy or acceptability of L-citrulline supplementation to modulate cardiovascular function in women with chronic hypertension in early pregnancy.
This study aims to assess the acceptability and feasibility of using L-citrulline supplements for women with chronic hypertension. We hope this treatment will be effective in improving blood pressure control, vessel and placental function in these women, as an alternative or supplement to pharmacological intervention.
The recruitment rates and assessment of the effectiveness of oral L-citrulline in this study will allow us to plan a larger randomised study, which will be able to determine whether oral L-citrulline treatment is cost effective for the treatment of chronic hypertension.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0557
Date of REC Opinion
16 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion