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

Abstract

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 pre-hypertensive and hypertensive subjects over two years.

By the end of follow-up, systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (-2.4 +/- 5.9 mmHg, p<0.05 and -2.2 +/- 3.5 mmHg, p<0.001), and large artery compliance improved significantly (1.9 +/- 3.6 ml/mmHg x 100, p<0.01). The progression of coronary artery calcium score was smaller than expected compared to a historical database (p<0.001). Laboratory testing showed significant decreases in glycated hemoglobin (p<0.03), homocysteine (p<0.05), HDL cholesterol (p<0.05) and Apo A (p<0.01), as well as significant increases in beta-carotene, folate, Co-Q10 and alpha-tocopherol (all p<0.001).

The phytonutrient concentrate we utilized induced several favorable modifications of markers of vascular health in the study subjects. This study supports the notion that plant nutrients are important components of a heart healthy diet.

Keywords: antioxidant, blood pressure, coronary artery calcium, fruit, hypertension, vegetable

JEL Classification: I12, Z00