TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of watermelon supplementation on arterial stiffness and wave reflection amplitude in postmenopausal women
AU - Figueroa, Arturo
AU - Wong, Alexei
AU - Hooshmand, Shirin
AU - Sanchez-Gonzalez, Marcos Angel
PY - 2013/5
Y1 - 2013/5
N2 - Objective: Postmenopausal women have increased arterial stiffness (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV]) and wave reflection. L-Citrulline supplementation reduces baPWV but not brachial blood pressure. Peripheral vasodilators decrease wave reflection amplitude or second systolic peak (SBP2) in radial artery and aorta, which are related to aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP). We examined the effects of L-citrulline-rich watermelon supplementation on baPWV, wave reflection characteristics, and aortic SBP in postmenopausal women. Methods: In a randomized cross-over study, 12 postmenopausal women (mean [SE] age, 57 [1] y; mean [SE] body mass index, 38.1 [2.1] kg/m2; mean [SE] SBP, 153 [4] mm Hg) were assigned to watermelon supplementation (L-citrulline/L-arginine 6 g/d) or placebo supplementation for 6 weeks. Before and after each intervention, baPWV, aortic SBP, aortic diastolic blood pressure, aortic SBP2, radial SBP2, and aortic and radial augmentation indices were measured using applanation tonometry. Results: baPWV (-1.2 [0.3] m/s, P < 0.001), aortic SBP (-10 [3] mm Hg, P < 0.01), and aortic diastolic blood pressure (-7 [1] mm Hg, P < 0.001) decreased after watermelon supplementation compared with placebo. Although radial and aortic augmentation indices were unaffected, radial and aortic SBP2 decreased (-10 [3] mm Hg, P < 0.01) after watermelon supplementation compared with placebo. The reduction in aortic SBP was correlated with reductions in radial SBP2 (r = 0.99, P < 0.001) and aortic SBP2 (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). The decreases in baPWV correlated with reductions in radial SBP2 (r = 0.57, P < 0.01) and aortic SBP2 (r = 0.64, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Watermelon supplementation reduces arterial stiffness and aortic SBP by reducing pressure wave reflection amplitude in obese postmenopausal women with hypertension.
AB - Objective: Postmenopausal women have increased arterial stiffness (brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity [baPWV]) and wave reflection. L-Citrulline supplementation reduces baPWV but not brachial blood pressure. Peripheral vasodilators decrease wave reflection amplitude or second systolic peak (SBP2) in radial artery and aorta, which are related to aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP). We examined the effects of L-citrulline-rich watermelon supplementation on baPWV, wave reflection characteristics, and aortic SBP in postmenopausal women. Methods: In a randomized cross-over study, 12 postmenopausal women (mean [SE] age, 57 [1] y; mean [SE] body mass index, 38.1 [2.1] kg/m2; mean [SE] SBP, 153 [4] mm Hg) were assigned to watermelon supplementation (L-citrulline/L-arginine 6 g/d) or placebo supplementation for 6 weeks. Before and after each intervention, baPWV, aortic SBP, aortic diastolic blood pressure, aortic SBP2, radial SBP2, and aortic and radial augmentation indices were measured using applanation tonometry. Results: baPWV (-1.2 [0.3] m/s, P < 0.001), aortic SBP (-10 [3] mm Hg, P < 0.01), and aortic diastolic blood pressure (-7 [1] mm Hg, P < 0.001) decreased after watermelon supplementation compared with placebo. Although radial and aortic augmentation indices were unaffected, radial and aortic SBP2 decreased (-10 [3] mm Hg, P < 0.01) after watermelon supplementation compared with placebo. The reduction in aortic SBP was correlated with reductions in radial SBP2 (r = 0.99, P < 0.001) and aortic SBP2 (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). The decreases in baPWV correlated with reductions in radial SBP2 (r = 0.57, P < 0.01) and aortic SBP2 (r = 0.64, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Watermelon supplementation reduces arterial stiffness and aortic SBP by reducing pressure wave reflection amplitude in obese postmenopausal women with hypertension.
KW - Aortic blood pressure
KW - Arterial stiffness
KW - L-Citrulline/L-arginine
KW - Pulse wave velocity
KW - Second systolic peak
KW - Wave reflection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879197778&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/gme.0b013e3182733794
DO - 10.1097/gme.0b013e3182733794
M3 - Article
C2 - 23615650
AN - SCOPUS:84879197778
VL - 20
SP - 573
EP - 577
JO - Menopause
JF - Menopause
SN - 1072-3714
IS - 5
ER -