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Arterial Stiffness and Blood Pressure are Reduced After Watermelon Supplementation in Obese With Prehypertension and Hypertension
Author(s) -
Figueroa Arturo,
Sanchez-Gonzalez Marcos Angel,
Wong Alexei,
Arjmandi Bahram H
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.385.3
Subject(s) - pulse wave velocity , arterial stiffness , medicine , blood pressure , cardiology , brachial artery , prehypertension , angiotensin ii , endocrinology
Objective To examine the effects of watermelon supplementation on arterial stiffness (brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity, baPWV) and aortic blood pressure (BP) in obese adults. Methods Fifteen middle‐aged (58±1 y) obese individuals (BMI: 37.3±1.8 kg/m2) with high BP (151±4 mmHg) were randomly assigned to receive watermelon powder containing 6 g daily of L‐citrulline/L‐arginine or placebo powder (PL) in a 6‐week cross‐over study with a 2‐week washout period. Subjects were evaluated before and after the interventions to assess changes in baPWV, BP, aortic augmentation index (aAIx), and plasma angiotensin II levels. Results baPWV (−1.3±0.3 m/s), brachial systolic BP (SBP, −13±3 mmHg), brachial diastolic BP (DBP, −7±1 mmHg), aortic SBP (− 9±3 mmHg), aortic DBP (−7±1 mmHg), and angiotensin II (−10±2 pg/ml) significantly (p<0.01) decreased after watermelon compared with PL. Although aAIx was not affected, wave reflection amplitude decreased (−9±3 mmHg, p<0.01) after watermelon compared with PL. Conclusion Watermelon supplementation caused a marked decrease in arterial stiffness, peripheral BP, and aortic BP in obese individuals with prehypertension and hypertension. Our findings suggest that watermelon supplementation may improve arterial function through attenuation of the vascular effects of angiotensin II and improved wave reflection amplitude.