RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Abertay Tea for Cardiovascular Health During Menopause

This study is investigating if a new English breakfast tea, enriched with fermented seaweed, can improve heart and blood vessel health in women who have gone through menopause. Many women in the UK drink tea daily, and seaweed has shown promise in reducing heart risks, especially in countries like Japan. Researchers from Abertay University have created a special tea that tastes like regular English breakfast tea but includes fermented seaweed. They will ask postmenopausal women to drink three cups of this 'AberTea' daily for eight weeks. They want to see if this helps lower blood pressure, improves how blood vessels work, and positively affects other heart health markers compared to drinking regular tea.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Abertay University

Enrolment target

Start

16 Jun 2025

Estimated completion

01 Nov 2025

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Vascular Function

What is this study about?

You might have heard that seaweed is good for you, and in countries like Japan, where people eat a lot of it, there's often a lower risk of heart problems and longer lifespans. This is thought to be because seaweed contains special ingredients like antioxidants and fibre that can help our bodies, especially our heart and blood vessels.

As women go through menopause, their risk of heart problems can increase. Researchers believe that the helpful ingredients in seaweed could be particularly beneficial for this group of women. Since many people in the UK enjoy a daily cup of English breakfast tea, the idea is to see if adding these beneficial seaweed compounds to tea could be a simple and enjoyable way to improve heart health for many, including postmenopausal women.

Scientists at Abertay University have developed a new English breakfast tea, called AberTea, which has fermented seaweed added to it, but still tastes like regular tea. This study wants to find out if drinking three cups of this special AberTea every day for eight weeks can improve things like blood pressure and how blood vessels work in women after menopause, compared to drinking regular English breakfast tea.

Key takeaways

The study explores if seaweed-enriched tea improves heart health in postmenopausal women.
Participants will drink three cups of either special or regular tea daily for 8 weeks.
It involves two visits for health checks and blood tests.
The special tea is designed to taste like normal English breakfast tea.
This study aims to find a simple way to boost heart health with a common drink.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a woman who has gone through menopause, meaning you haven't had a period for over a year. You should also enjoy drinking tea regularly (at least once a week) and be happy to drink three cups of English breakfast tea every day for eight weeks. Your body mass index (BMI) should be between 18.5 and 39.99.

However, you won't be able to take part if you've ever had certain serious health conditions like heart attacks, angina, strokes, or diabetes, or if you have kidney, liver, or bowel diseases. You also can't join if you've had cancer in the last year, have issues with blood clotting, or have problems with your digestion where nutrients aren't absorbed well.

Additionally, if you're currently taking certain medications for cholesterol or blood clots, have thyroid problems, smoke or vape, drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week, or have used hormone replacement therapy in the last three months, you won't be eligible. Lastly, if you've been in another clinical trial recently (within the last three months) or are allergic to shellfish (crustaceans) or iodine, you cannot participate.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a woman who has not had a period for over a year (postmenopausal)?
Do you regularly drink tea (at least once a week) and are happy to drink three cups daily for 8 weeks?
Is your BMI generally considered to be in the healthy to overweight range (18.5 - 39.99)?
Have you *not* had serious heart problems, diabetes, kidney/liver/bowel disease, or cancer in the last year?
Are you *not* currently smoking/vaping, taking certain medications for cholesterol or blood clots, or using hormone replacement therapy?
Are you *not* allergic to shellfish or iodine?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you're interested, you'll first get some information by email and fill out a quick questionnaire to see if you might be suitable. If you seem eligible, you'll be invited for a short screening visit (about 20 minutes). During this visit, your height, weight, and a fasting blood sugar level will be checked, and you'll answer questions about your physical activity.

If you meet all the criteria and decide to join, you'll sign a consent form. You'll then be randomly assigned to drink either the special seaweed-enriched AberTea or a regular English breakfast tea. You'll need to drink three cups of your assigned tea every day for eight weeks. It's important not to change your usual eating habits or physical activity during this time.

You'll visit Abertay University at the beginning (week 0) and end (week 8) of the study, after fasting. During these visits, researchers will take measurements of your blood vessels and body, collect fasting blood samples to check for heart health markers, and ask questions about any menopausal symptoms. At your first visit, you'll receive all the tea bags you'll need for the eight weeks. The research team will also keep in touch with you every two weeks through calls or emails to check how you're doing and ensure you're drinking the tea as requested.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study might offer the benefit of potentially improving your heart health, including your blood pressure and how your blood vessels work, although this is what the study aims to discover and isn't guaranteed. There are no significant known risks associated with drinking the tea, as it's designed to be similar to regular English breakfast tea with added safe ingredients. However, as with any study, there's always a small chance of unforeseen side effects. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual medical care or relationship with the university.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Abertay University
Verified postcode
Dundee, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is fermented seaweed and why is it in the tea?

Fermented seaweed is brown seaweed that has been processed. It's added because it contains natural compounds like antioxidants and fibre that are believed to be good for heart health.

Will the tea taste different because of the seaweed?

The researchers have specially developed this tea so that it still tastes like regular English breakfast tea, even with the fermented seaweed added.

How many cups of tea do I need to drink?

You will be asked to drink three cups of the assigned tea every day for eight weeks as part of the study.

What tests will I have if I join?

You'll have body measurements taken, blood pressure checks, blood samples for markers of heart health, and questions about your menopausal symptoms.

Can I continue with my usual diet and exercise?

Yes, you should aim to keep your diet and physical activity habits as consistent as possible throughout the study period.

How to find out more

Sarah C Cottin, PhD

s.cottin@abertay.ac.uk +44(0)1382308780 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.