Watermelon extract supplementation reduces Ankle blood pressure and carotid augmentation index in obese adults with prehypertension or hypertension

Arturo Figueroa, Marcos A. Sanchez-Gonzalez, Alexei Wong, Bahram H. Arjmandi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and ankle blood pressure (BP) are associated with increased carotid wave reflection (augmentation index, AIx). Oral L-citrulline and L-arginine from synthetic or watermelon sources have reduced brachial BP, aortic BP, and aortic AIx. A directly measured carotid AIx (cAIx) rather than aortic AIx has been proposed as a better measurement of central AIx. We evaluated the effects of watermelon extract on ankle BP and cAIx in individuals with normal ABI and prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension.MethodsAnkle and brachial systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cAIx, ABI, and heart rate (HR) were evaluated in the supine position in 14 adults (11 women/3 men, age 58 1 years) with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension (153 4 mm Hg). Subjects were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of watermelon extract supplementation (L-citrulline/L- arginine, 6 g daily) or placebo followed by a 2-week washout period and then crossover.ResultsAnkle and brachial SBP (11.5±3.8 and 15.1±2.8 mm Hg), DBP (7.8±2.3 and 7.6±1.8 mm Hg), and MAP (9.8±2.6 and 7.3±1.8 mm Hg), and cAIx (8.8±2.6 %) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after watermelon supplementation compared to placebo. Watermelon supplementation had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on ABI and HR.ConclusionsThis study shows that watermelon extract supplementation reduces ankle BP, brachial BP, and carotid wave reflection in obese middle-aged adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension and normal ABI, which may reflect improved arterial function.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)640-643
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican journal of hypertension
Volume25
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012

Keywords

  • Ankle blood pressure
  • blood pressure
  • carotid wave reflection
  • hypertension
  • l-citrulline
  • watermelon

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