• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.155-162
• /
• 2010

Epidemiological evidence of the effects of dietary sodium, calcium, and potassium, and anthropometric indexes on blood pressure is still inconsistent. To investigate the relationship between dietary factors or anthropometric indexes and hypertension risk, we examined the association of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) with sodium, calcium, and potassium intakes and anthropometric indexes in 19~49-year-olds using data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) III. Total of 2,761 young and middle aged adults (574 aged 19~29 years and 2,187 aged 30~49 years) were selected from KNHANES III. General information, nutritional status, and anthropometric data were compared between two age groups (19~29 years old and 30~49 years old). The relevance of blood pressure and risk factors such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference, and the intakes of sodium, potassium, and calcium was determined by multiple regression analysis. Multiple regression models showed that waist circumference, weight, and BMI were positively associated with SBP and DBP in both age groups. Sodium and potassium intakes were not associated with either SBP or DBP. Among 30~49-year-olds, calcium was inversely associated with both SBP and DBP (P = 0.012 and 0.010, respectively). Our findings suggest that encouraging calcium consumption and weight control may play an important role in the primary prevention and management of hypertension in early adulthood.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.13 no.2 s.20
• /
• pp.149-155
• /
• 2007

Objective : Using a spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model of essential hypertension, this study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) could reduce early stage hypertension by examining whether EA increased nitric oxide (NO) levels in plasma, which compensates for elevated blood pressure (BP). Methods : EA was applied to the acupoint, Baekhoe (GV20), and to a non acupoint in the tail at 10 Hz and an intensity of 1 mA for 10 minutes on the first and fourth day of the week for three weeks under isoflurane anesthesia. In conscious SHR and normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, blood pressure was determined the day after EA treatment by the tail cuff method using an automatic BP monitoring system. We also measured NO concentration of blood serum in SHR and WKY. Results : Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were lower after 3 weeks of GV20 treatment than in non EA treated or non acupoint treated SHR rats. The NO level of plasma was significantly lower in hypertensive SHR than in normotensive WKY. EA prevented the augmentation of blood pressure, and also increased NO concentrations from $7.91{\pm}0.42$ ${\mu}M$ to $11.50{\pm}0.93$ ${\mu}M$ in SHR serum. Conclusions : We suggest that acupuncture may be an early intervention to delay the development of hypertension and enhance NO/NOS activity.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.214-220
• /
• 2017

Background: Dapagliflozin is an oral selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2(SGLT2), the kidney transporter chiefly responsible for glucose reabsorption from the glomerular filtrate. Because this mechanism does not require the action of insulin, dapagliflozin rarely causes hypoglycemia. Dapagliflozin may affect blood glucose control as well as blood pressure and the body weight which are one of the cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, dehydration and ketoacidosis are reported as the side effects of the dapagliflozin treatment and the safety issues have been occurred. The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness and adverse events of dapagliflozin in Korean patients. Methods: From December 2014 to August 2015, we retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of type 2 diabetes patients who were prescribed dapagliflozin at Severance Hospital. Results: A total of 202 Korean patients were enrolled in this study. The effectiveness in the reduction of blood glucose was statistically significant(p<0.001). Dapagliflozin decreased 0.74% of HbA1c after 24 weeks. Significantly more participants achieved the target HbA1c level(HbA1c<7%) after 24 weeks(n=42, 35.3%) than before taking dapagliflozin(n=21, 17.6%). Blood pressure decreased 5.7 mmHg systolic blood pressure(SBP), 1.9 mmHg diastolic blood pressure(DBP) after 24 weeks. More than one quarter of participants(n=35, 29.4%) experienced weight loss. Most common adverse event was genitourinary symptoms. Conclusion: In this study, the effectiveness of dapagliflozin in improving glycemic control, blood pressure control, and weight loss was statistically significant. However, elderly and female patients, who have higher incidence of adverse events, should use dapagliflozin cautiously.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.418-428
• /
• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional relationship between low blood lead levels and increasing blood pressure among Korean adults using a nationally representative sample of the Korean population: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008. Methods: A total of 918 subjects aged 40 and older and not currently being treated for hypertension participated in this study. Information about age, gender, smoking status, alcohol consumption, education level, and the use of anti-hypertensive medication was collected. The blood pressure was defined as the mean of the second and the third measurements after three time measurements. Lead levels were determined by an analysis of blood samples. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were implemented after adjusting for covariates including age, gender, educational level, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and BMI. Results: This study showed that the average differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure comparing the lowest to highest quintile of blood lead were 4.33 mmHg (95% CI, 0.66-8.00; p for trend = 0.027) and 2.66 mmHg (95% CI, 0.26-5.06; p for trend = 0.021), respectively. After multivariate adjustment for covariates, the prevalence odds ratio (POR) of subjects in the highest quintile was associated with a 1.70-fold increase in the risks of hypertension (95% CI, 0.83-3.49; p for trend test = 0.112) over those in the lowest quintile of blood lead concentration, However, it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: This study provided evidence for an association between low- levels of blood lead and elevations in blood pressure and risk for hypertension in the general population of Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.232-241
• /
• 1988

This study was to investigate the effect of calcium supplementation on the reduction of blood pressure in normotensive young adults. Fortyseven healthy college students(23 male and 24 female) were divided into Ca and placebo groups, and were orally given with calcium(1g/day, 2.5g as CaCO3) and placebo, respectively, for 20 weeks. Blood pressure was measured by Korotokoff method in seated position every two weeks. Average daily dietary calcium intakes of the subjects were 626-643mg in men and 513-552mg in women. Average initial level of serum calcium of the subjects belonged to normal range. 1. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure(SBP and DBP) of Ca group showed significant continuously decreasing tendency from 6-8 weeks until final 20 weeks of the supplementation in both men and women. But placebo groups did not. Comparing with the basal value, reduction of SBP and DBP after 20 weeks were 6.53$\pm$4.30%(8.9mmHg) and 8.10$\pm$3.30%(7.4mmHg) in men, and 6.56$\pm$2.41%(8.1mmHg) and 7.33$\pm$3.75%(6.2mmHg) in women. The blood pressure lowering effect of calcium supplementation seemed to be greater in the subjects with higher basal SBP. 2. Serum calcium was significantly increased by calcium supplementation in both men and women, and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.213) and DBP(r=-.301) in women. Serum Ca/Mg ratio of Ca group was also elevated and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.174) and DBP(r=-.194) in total subjects. 3. Urinary excretion of Na did not show any significant changes by calcium supplementation in both men and women and showed no correlations with blood pressures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.97-102
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find the effect of foot bath on blood pressure(BP) following treadmill exercise. Methode : Subject of study were forty healthy males without any cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neurologic diseases. Following twenty minutes walking at a speed of 5m/s on the treadmill, ten twenty subjects in experimental group received foot bath, on the dominant lower limb while sitting in chair. Foot bath was applied to the level of the lateral and medial malleoli keeping the temperature of the paraffin bath at $40{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$. Twenty subjects in control group took a rest sitting in chair in a comfortable position. BP was measured in right brachial artery. BP was measured five times(before exercise, immediately after exercise, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and fifteen minutes after exercise). Results : The study showed that for diastolic blood pressure, there was no significant difference between the experimental and the control group. However, systolic blood pressure(SBP) increased significantly after exercise compared with SBP before exercise (p<.05). In addition, SBP in five minutes after exercise decreased significantly compared with SBP in immediately after exercise (p<.05). On the other hand, the control group had significant difference between SBP measured before exercise and SBP measured at the other measure time (p<.05). In five minutes after exercise, SBP in experimental group had significant difference with SBP in control group (p<.05). Similarly, in ten and fifteen minutes after exercise, SBP in experimental group had significantly difference with SBP in control group (p<.05). Conclusion : Consequently it was confirmed that when foot bath was applied, the increased BP induced by the exercise returned to normal range rapidly.

• CELLMED
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.4.1-4.4
• /
• 2015

Yoga is an ancient Indian system of life, encompassing various practices including practices for self-discipline and also for regulating the health states of the individual, being practiced for thousands of years. The present study aims at understanding the effect of two high frequency breathing practices over autonomic nervous system. Forty healthy male volunteers of age $21{\pm}2$ years with $9{\pm}3$ months of Yoga practice experience were recruited. The two high frequency Yoga breathing practices, kapalabhati (KB) and bhastrika (BH) were given as interventions randomly on either of the two days to minimise laboratory bias. They were assessed before and immediately after the interventions for heart rate, respiratory rate, heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure and peripheral oxygen saturation. There was a significant increase in heart rate (p<0.01; p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p<0.01; p<0.001), NN50 (p<0.01; p<0.001) component of HRV for both KB and BH groups respectively. There was a significant reduction in respiratory rate in both the groups (p<0.001, and p<0.05, BH and KB respectively) immediately following intervention. A significant increase in LF component of HRV and reduction in Diastolic blood pressure and high frequency (HF)component following KB was also observed (p<0.05, for all comparisons). The Mean peripheral oxygen saturation remained unaltered in both the groups (p>0.05).The results suggest that high frequency yoga breathing practices induce physiological arousal immediately as evidenced by increased blood pressure and heart rate. The sympathetic arousal was more following KB session as evidenced by an increased diastolic blood pressure, LF power and a decrease in HF power of HRV as compared to the BH session.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.621-628
• /
• 2016

Hypertension can be caused by various factors while the predominant causes include increase in body fluid volume and resistance in the circulatory system that elevate the blood pressure. Consumption of probiotics has been proven to attenuate hypertension; however, the effect is much strain-dependent. In this study, a newly isolated Lactobacillus casei (Lb. casei ) strain C1 was investigated for its antihypertensive properties in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) suspension of 11 log colony-forming unit (CFU) was given to SHR (SHR+LAB, n=8), and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was given as a control in SHR (SHR, n=8) and in Wistar rats as sham (WIS, n=8). The treatment was given via oral gavage for 8 weeks. The results showed that the weekly systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and aortic reactivity function were remarkably improved after 8 weeks of bacterial administration in SHR+LAB. These effects were mostly attributed by restoration of wall tension and tensile stress following the bacterial treatment. Although not statistically significant, the level of malondialdehye (MDA) in SHR+LAB serum was found declining. Increased levels of glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide (NO) in SHR+LAB serum suggested that the bacterium exerted vascular protection through antioxidative functions and relatively high NO level that induced vasodilation. Collectively, Lb. casei strain C1 is a promising alternative for hypertension improvement.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.169-176
• /
• 2006

This study was designed to observe the effects of Korean mistletoe(Viscum album L. var. coloratum Ohwi) hot-water extract administration on the improvement on the lipid components, apolipoprotein and blood pressure level in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, Wistar strain, male) fed the experimental diets for 33 days. Concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), LDL-cholesterol, free cholesterol and atheroscieotic index in serum were significantly lower in the Korean mistletoe extract administration group [group KM(Korean mistletoe 10.0 g% hot-water extract)] than those in the control group. In the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration Korean mistletoe 10.0% hot-water extract administration group were higher percentage than in the control group. However, concentrations of total cholesterol and TG in liver and brain were significantly lower in the group KM than those in the control group. But the components of apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I and Apo A-II in serum were significantly higher in the KM group than in the control group. However, components of Apo C-II, Apo C-III, Apo E and ratio of Apo B to Apo A-I in serum were fairly reduced in the group KM than in the control group. The levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in KM cup than control group. From these results, Korean mistletoe hot-water extract administration were effective on the improvement of the lipid components, coronary heart disease and hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats. And particularly, Korean mistletoe extract administration were more effective as a therapeutic regimen for the control of blood pressure in hypertension.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.132-137
• /
• 2010

Lead (Pb) is a metal that is generally considered to be toxic to the cardiovascular system. Pb-exposed animals display the evidence of increased oxidative stress and hypertension. The current study was designed to examine whether Korean red ginseng (KRG) has protective effects against Pb-induced hypertension and oxidative stress in Pb-exposed rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to Pb exposure or control groups. KRG was administered in drinking water at a concentration of 100 mg/kg/day; the control group received plain drinking water. Animals in the Pb-exposed groups were provided with drinking water containing 100 ppm Pb acetate for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, plasma glutathione, blood Pb concentration, and hematologic data, such as red blood cell quantity, were determined. Pb poisoning was assessed by measuring the blood Pb concentration. Pb exposure (100 ppm) for 12 weeks resulted in a marked rise in systolic blood pressure and blood Pb concentration, as well as a significant reduction in plasma glutathione levels and red blood cell quantity. Other measurements, such as heart rate, body weight, and white blood cell quantity, were unchanged. Treatment with KRG significantly lowered blood pressure, raised plasma glutathione and increased red blood cell numbers in Pb-exposed animals; it also had no effect on heart rate, body weight, or white blood cell quantity. However, the elevated blood Pb concentration was not reduced by treatment with KRG (100 mg/kg). Taken together, these data indicate that treatment with KRG in Pb-exposed animals can reduce oxidative stress and lower blood pressure, suggesting that KRG might be protective against Pb-exposed hypertension and oxidative stress.