Systemic Blood Pressure

Systemic Blood Pressure

Systemic Blood Pressure

Juice Powder Concentrate and Systemic Blood Pressure, Progression of Coronary Artery Calcium and Antioxidant Status in Hypertensive Subjects: A Pilot Study

M. C. Houston1, B. Cooil2, B. J. Olafsson3 and P. Raggi4

1Hypertension Institute of Nashville, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and St. Thomas West Hospital,
2Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University,
3The Heart Group, Saint Thomas Heart Institute and St. Thomas West Hospital, Nashville, TN and
4Department of Medicine and Division of Cardiology,Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Because micronutrients from plants may have beneficial cardiovascular effects, the hypothesis that an encapsulated juice powder concentrate might affect several measures of vascular health was tested in free-living adults at low cardiovascular risk. Blood pressure, vascular compliance, lipid, and antioxidant markers, and serial electron beam tomography (to calculate a coronary artery calcium score as a measure of atherosclerosis burden), were monitored in 51 prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects over 2 years. By the end of follow-up, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly ( 2.4 1.0 mmHg, P5 0.05 and 2.2 0.6 mmHg, P5 0.001), and large artery compliance improved significantly (1.9 0.6 mlmmHg1 100, P5 0.01). The progression of coronary artery calcium score was smaller than expected compared with a historical database (P5 0.001). Laboratory testing showed a significant decrease in homocysteine (P. 0.05), HDL cholesterol (P. 0.025), and Apo A (P. 0.004), as well as a significant increase in b -carotene, folate, Co-Q10, and a-tocopherol (all P5 0.001). The phytonutrient concentrate we utilized induced several favorable modifications of markers of vascular health in the subjects. This study supports the notion that plant nutrients are important components of a heart-healthy diet.