1
|
Ellis AC, Mehta T, Nagabooshanam VA, Dudenbostel T, Locher JL, Crowe-White KM. Daily 100% watermelon juice consumption and vascular function among postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2021; 31:2959-2968. [PMID: 34344546 PMCID: PMC8435004 DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2021.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Watermelon juice is a rich food source of cardioprotective compounds such as arginine, citrulline, and lycopene. Preventative interventions are warranted as risk of cardiovascular disease increases among women after menopause, and age alone is an independent risk factor for vascular dysfunction. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of 100% watermelon juice on measures of vascular function. METHODS AND RESULTS In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 21 healthy postmenopausal women were randomized to consume two 360 mL servings of 100% watermelon juice per day or an isocaloric placebo for four weeks. Following a two-week washout period, they consumed the other beverage for an additional four weeks. Before and after each treatment arm, a fasting blood sample was taken for measurement of serum arginine, citrulline, lycopene, glucose, and insulin. Assessments of vascular function included pulse pressure, pulse wave velocity, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure, and flow-mediated dilation. General linear mixed models with intent-to-treat analyses were used to examine the effects of the intervention. Despite a significant treatment effect for circulating lycopene (p = 0.002), no changes in arginine, citrulline, or any vascular measures were observed. Although the juice intervention resulted in a slight but significant increase in fasting serum glucose (p = 0.001), changes in glucose homeostasis were not clinically significant. CONCLUSION In contrast to findings from previous studies in younger adults and those with pre-existing hypertension, measures of vascular function in this cohort of healthy postmenopausal women were not impacted by supplemental watermelon juice. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER NCT03626168.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy C Ellis
- University of Alabama, Department of Human Nutrition, Russell Hall, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
| | - Tapan Mehta
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Nutrition Obesity Research Center, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Vinoth A Nagabooshanam
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB/Lakeshore Foundation Research Collaborative, 1675 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Tanja Dudenbostel
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Cardiovascular Disease, Vascular Biology & Hypertension, 933 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Julie L Locher
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Care, 933 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Kristi M Crowe-White
- University of Alabama, Department of Human Nutrition, Russell Hall, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bunsawat K, Ratchford SM, Alpenglow JK, Park SH, Jarrett CL, Stehlik J, Smith AS, Richardson RS, Wray DW. Sacubitril-valsartan improves conduit vessel function and functional capacity and reduces inflammation in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2021; 130:256-268. [PMID: 33211601 PMCID: PMC7944927 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00454.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The Prospective comparison of ARNI with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and morbidity in Heart Failure trial identified a marked reduction in the risk of death and hospitalization for heart failure in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) treated with sacubitril-valsartan (trade name Entresto), but the physiological processes underpinning these improvements are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that treatment with sacubitril-valsartan improves peripheral vascular function, functional capacity, and inflammation in patients with HFrEF. We prospectively studied patients with HFrEF (n = 11, 10 M/1 F, left ventricular ejection fraction = 27 ± 8%) on optimal, guideline-directed medical treatment who were subsequently prescribed sacubitril-valsartan (open-label, uncontrolled, and unblinded). Peripheral vascular function [brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD, conduit vessel function) and reactive hyperemia (RH, microvascular function)], functional capacity [six-minute walk test (6MWT) distance], and the proinflammatory biomarkers tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were obtained at baseline and at 1, 2, and 3 mo of treatment. %FMD improved after 1 mo of treatment, and this favorable response persisted for months 2 and 3 (baseline: 3.25 ± 1.75%; 1 mo: 5.23 ± 2.36%; 2 mo: 5.81 ± 1.79%; 3 mo: 6.35 ± 2.77%), whereas RH remained unchanged. 6MWT distance increased at months 2 and 3 (baseline: 420 ± 92 m; 1 mo: 436 ± 98 m; 2 mo: 465 ± 115 m; 3 mo: 460 ± 110 m), and there was a sustained reduction in TNF-α (baseline: 2.38 ± 1.35 pg/mL; 1 mo: 2.06 ± 1.52 pg/mL; 2 mo: 1.95 ± 1.34 pg/mL; 3 mo: 1.92 ± 1.37 pg/mL) and a reduction in IL-18 at month 3 (baseline: 654 ± 150 pg/mL; 1 mo: 595 ± 140 pg/mL; 2 mo: 601 ± 176 pg/mL; 3 mo: 571 ± 127 pg/mL). This study provides new evidence for the potential of this new drug class to improve conduit vessel function, functional capacity, and inflammation in patients with HFrEF.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We observed an approximately twofold improvement in conduit vessel function (brachial artery FMD), increased functional capacity (6MWT distance), and a reduction in inflammation (TNF-α and IL-18) following 3 mo of sacubitril-valsartan therapy. These findings provide important new information concerning the physiological mechanisms by which this new drug class provokes favorable changes in HFrEF pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanokwan Bunsawat
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Stephen M Ratchford
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Health & Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina
| | - Jeremy K Alpenglow
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Soung Hun Park
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Catherine L Jarrett
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Josef Stehlik
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Adam S Smith
- Department of Pharmacy Services, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Russell S Richardson
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - D Walter Wray
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
Methodological flaws, limitations, and inadequate practices in research are well known and pose threats to the internal validity of any research study. However, there are ways of safeguarding research conduct to reduce the chance of research producing distorted results. Numerous tools now exist to assess the incorporation of such safeguards into primary research studies (also known as quality and/or risk-of-bias assessment). These tools typically include a variety of items that are then checked against those implemented in the study. Despite a lot of research in this area, no comprehensive generic classification of safeguards across study designs exist, although attempts have been made to clarify aspects of this. We review the developments in this area as well as use preliminary data from 100 methodological studies to illustrate our proposed approach. We conclude by proposing a new framework for identifying research studies at risk of being biased and the information in this article will promote a unification of the diverse approaches to facilitating bias assessment in clinical research.
Collapse
|
4
|
Thijssen DHJ, Bruno RM, van Mil ACCM, Holder SM, Faita F, Greyling A, Zock PL, Taddei S, Deanfield JE, Luscher T, Green DJ, Ghiadoni L. Expert consensus and evidence-based recommendations for the assessment of flow-mediated dilation in humans. Eur Heart J 2019; 40:2534-2547. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 338] [Impact Index Per Article: 67.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Endothelial dysfunction is involved in the development of atherosclerosis, which precedes asymptomatic structural vascular alterations as well as clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Endothelial function can be assessed non-invasively using the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) technique. Flow-mediated dilation represents an endothelium-dependent, largely nitric oxide (NO)-mediated dilatation of conduit arteries in response to an imposed increase in blood flow and shear stress. Flow-mediated dilation is affected by cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, relates to coronary artery endothelial function, and independently predicts CVD outcome. Accordingly, FMD is a tool for examining the pathophysiology of CVD and possibly identifying subjects at increased risk for future CV events. Moreover, it has merit in examining the acute and long-term impact of physiological and pharmacological interventions in humans. Despite concerns about its reproducibility, the available evidence shows that highly reliable FMD measurements can be achieved when specialized laboratories follow standardized protocols. For this purpose, updated expert consensus guidelines for the performance of FMD are presented, which are based on critical appraisal of novel technical approaches, development of analysis software, and studies exploring the physiological principles underlying the technique. Uniformity in FMD performance will (i) improve comparability between studies, (ii) contribute to construction of reference values, and (iii) offer an easy accessible and early marker of atherosclerosis that could complement clinical symptoms of structural arterial disease and facilitate early diagnosis and prediction of CVD outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dick H J Thijssen
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rosa Maria Bruno
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Anke C C M van Mil
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
- Department of Physiology, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie M Holder
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Francesco Faita
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council, Via Moruzzi 1, Pisa, Italy
| | - Arno Greyling
- Department Nutrition & Health, Unilever Vlaardingen, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter L Zock
- Department Nutrition & Health, Unilever Vlaardingen, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefano Taddei
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - John E Deanfield
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University College of London, 1 St Martin le Grand, London, UK
| | - Thomas Luscher
- Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, London University Heart Center, Sydney Street, London, UK
| | - Daniel J Green
- Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
- School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Lorenzo Ghiadoni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|