Scientists are looking for 40 people in Norfolk to take part in a study to investigate whether heart disease risks can be cut through eating pomegranate extract.

Researchers at Norwich's Quadram Institute will give up to £350 to people who complete the study - and will also provide them with meals for part of the programme.

Scientists want 40 volunteers to help with their research into whether pomegranates can help combat heart diseaseScientists want 40 volunteers to help with their research into whether pomegranates can help combat heart disease (Image: Newsquest Archive)

The study team is looking for people, who live within 40 miles of Norwich and whose diets include meat to volunteer.

They want to investigate whether extracts from pomegranate fruit can reduce how much of a compound called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is produced.

Previous studies have linked a high production of TMAO with increasing heart disease risk.

The Quadram InstituteThe Quadram Institute (Image: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital)

And scientists want to do more research into whether ellagitannins, compounds produced in pomegranates, can reduce TMAO production.

Participants will be asked to follow meal plans and take capsules containing L-carnitine - a nutrient found in meat, fish, dairy and eggs - together with either a placebo or pomegranate extract.

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This will allow scientists to compare the impact of a pomegranate extract on the gut microbiome and TMAO production.

To be eligible to take part, volunteers must regularly eat four potions of meat per week at least two months before starting the study.

They must also have a body mass index between 18.5 to 30 kg/m2.

Taking part in the study involves up to eight appointments at the Quadram Institute’s Clinical Research Facility at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where blood, urine and stool samples will be taken.

The study is split into two phases and selected participants will be asked to complete the second phase.

Participants will receive an inconvenience payment of £30 for completion of Phase I and an extra £320 upon completion of Phase II. During Phase II participants will also get meals provided by the study team.

Dr Paul KroonDr Paul Kroon (Image: Quadram Institute)

Dr Paul Kroon, from the Quadram Institute, said: "In the lab we discovered that a pomegranate extract rich in ellagitannins can significantly reduce precursors of TMAO.

"Following these observations, we propose this human trial to find out if we can see the same effect in healthy humans."

The study, funded by the Wellcome Trust, has been approved by the relevant research ethics committee.

Anyone interested in taking part should visit https://quadram.ac.uk/TESSA/