WAFLE Study

WAFLE stands for the effect of kawakawa consumption on markers of metabolic health and inflammation in healthy human volunteers.

Inflammation plays an important role in the onset of metabolic diseases including T2DM, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). It is well established that dietary factors could modulate these inflammatory responses, thereby reducing the risk of developing metabolic diseases.

Among various dietary factors, kawakawa is known to contain significant amounts if bioactive compounds that are shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, no current evidence demonstrates the functional effects of kawakawa on inflammation in human models.

It is important that we find alternative dietary interventions such as kawakawa for combating inflammation and thus inflammatory-related diseases. We hypothesise that consumption of 6-week kawakawa would decrease the levels of inflammatory marker hs-CRP in healthy human volunteers.

Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of kawakawa consumption on markers of inflammation and metabolic health in healthy human volunteers.

You can take part if:

• You are 18-45 years old
• Your BMI is between 25-30kg/m2
• You are a non-smoker
• You are not consuming dietary supplements
• You consider yourself to be healthy

The study involves taking capsules containing kawakawa or a placebo in a randomised manner for 12 weeks (6 weeks each arm), with a break period of 2 weeks in between. Your participation would require you to come into the clinical research unit (CRU) of the Liggins institute for 30 minutes screening and four intervention visits of approx. 3.5 hours each for an oral glucose tolerance test.

Blood and urine sampling will be taken at fasting and then at intervals for 3 hours after the oral glucose intake. You will learn more about your own body’s metabolic responses to kawakawa consumption and help us to better understand how kawakawa affects the health markers related to inflammation.

You will need to complete health-related questionnaires.

You will maintain your current lifestyle and dietary habits, i.e., we do NOT give advice and treatment.

As a participant, you will be thanked with a $200 gift voucher and a lunch for your time and efforts.

There is no substantial risk.

The capsules provided to you in this study are designed based on the safe dose limits of kawakawa (1g/day) for human intake and the placebo would contain an inactive plant material which is not digested by the body.

This study will involve blood sampling by inserting a cannula (tube) in the arm vein. A blood sample taken may hurt a little, and some people get a small bruise where the needle goes in.

If you are interested in taking part in this study, please contact Senilaite Tautuiaki at stau503@aucklanduni.ac.nz.

You could also take a look at this published paper.

This project has been reviewed and approved by the New Zealand Health & Disability Ethics Committees (HDEC). Reference: 2022 EXP 12300.