Effect of Indoor Plants on Cardiopulmonary System

Effect of Indoor Plants on Cardiopulmonary System: a Randomized, Crossover, Controlled Trial

This is a randomized controlled human exposure crossover study, aims to explore the health benefits of indoor plants on cardiopulmonary system on adults.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cardiopulmonary
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Plants placed in an office environment; Other: Devoid of any plant presence in an office environment

Detailed Description

The researchers will conduct a randomized cross-controlled trial involving 48 healthy adults in Hangzhou, China. These participants will be randomly assigned into two groups, each comprising 24 individuals. Each participant will undergo two separate exposures in an office setting: one exposure without any plants present, and another exposure with 34 to 38 potted plants. A washout period of at least 4 weeks will be implemented between the two exposures. Questionnaires, physical examinations and the collection of biological samples will be conducted prior to exposure and after exposure. In addition, the monitoring of negative air ion, air pollutants and noise exposure, as well as collection of environmental microbial samples, will be conducted on weekdays. Researchers will gather samples of blood, urine, nasal secretion, and exhaled breath condensate from participants.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 41
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Zhejiang
    • Huangzhou, Zhejiang, China, 310000
      • Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Living in Hangzhou during the study period;
• Non-smoking, no history of alcohol or drug abuse;
• Staying indoors in daytime we required.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current or ever smokers;
• Subjects with allergic disease, such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and atopy;
• Subjects with cardiovascular disease, such as congenital heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, and hypertension;
• Subjects with respiratory disease, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
• Subjects with chronic disease, such as diabetes, chronic hepatitis, and kidney disease;
• Subjects with a history of major surgery;
• Medication use or dietary supplements intake in recent two months;
• Unable to cooperate with follow-up.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Plants placed in an office environment; Participants in this group will receive an intervention of plants placed in an office environment.	Other: Plants placed in an office environment; The intervention group will be provided with an intervention consisting of 34-38 potted plants arranged in an office environment for a duration of 8 hours (09:00-17:00) on weekdays (Monday to Friday) for 4 weeks.
Active Comparator: Devoid of any plant presence in an office environment; Participants in this group will be exposed to an office environment devoid of any plant presence.	Other: Devoid of any plant presence in an office environment; Participants assigned to the control group will be exposed to an office environment devoid of any plant presence for a duration of 8 hours (09:00-17:00) on weekdays (Monday to Friday) for 4 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Forced Vital Capacity(FVC)	We plan to measure forced vital capacity (FVC) of lung function.	Baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in first stage, and after washout period, baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in second stage.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Blood Pressure(BP)	We plan to measure systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).	Baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in first stage, and after washout period, baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in second stage.
Heart Rate Variability(HRV)	We plan to measure Heart Rate Variability (HRV).	Baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in first stage, and after washout period, baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in second stage.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
C-reactive protein(CRP)	We plan to measure serum concentrations of C-reactive protein(CRP)	Baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in first stage, and after washout period, baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in second stage.
Interleukin-6(IL-6)	We plan to measure the serum concentrations of Interleukin-6	Baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in first stage, and after washout period, baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in second stage.
Tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)	We plan to measure the serum concentrations of Tumor necrosis factor-α	Time Frame: Baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in first stage, and after washout period, baseline and after 4 weeks plants exposure in second stage.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lina Zhang
• Collaborators: Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lina Zhang, Ph.D, School of Public Health, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 21, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 29, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): March 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): September 29, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 25, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 24, 2024
• Last Verified: July 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 20230922-4

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No