Do you have knee pain? Are you between 45-79 years old? If so, the department of Nutrition and Food Sciences needs you for a research study open to TWU and the general public. Both men and women are being recruited as volunteers, if they are healthy and mobile. Note: The study site is the TWU Denton campus.

This four-month research study looks at the beneficial effet of watermelon in improving joint function and reducing pain associated with knee arthristis.

Criteria:

• Willing to consume either whole watermelon powder or a powder without watermelon reconstituted in water for a period of 4 months.
• Blood draws at the start, midpoint (2 months) and at the end (4 months) of the study.
• Joint flexibility, gait & balance analysis, and vascular health assessments at start of study, midpoint, and end of study.
• Pain and physical activity will be assessed via questionnaires.

Total time you need to spend for the study is 4 hours 45 minutes over 4 months involving 3 visits.

Benefits:

• Promotion of knee joint and vascular health
• Measurements of height and weight
• Pain and stiffness evaluation
• Range of motion, gait, and vascular assessment
• Blood markers of cartilage health will be evaluated

Upon completion, you will receive a compensation of $100 for your time in partial payments of $50 at midpoint (2 months) and final visits.

Interested? Contact Shanil Juma at nutritionresearch@twu.edu, 940-898-2704