The influence of food temperature on postprandial blood pressure reduction and its relation to substance-P in healthy elderly subjects.
Blood pressure (BP) in the elderly may decrease after a meal or oral glucose loading. The mechanism of this phenomenon is still unclear. In addition, the effect of the temperature of a meal on postprandial BP is unknown. However, it has been suggested that vasoactive gastrointestinal peptides are involved in the etiology of postprandial BP reduction. Therefore, we studied the effects of a cold and a warm glucose solution on BP, heart rate, plasma glucose, insulin, and substance-P levels in 15 healthy elderly subjects with a mean age of 74 +/- 3 (SD) years. With an interval of at least 2 days, a warm (50 degrees C) and a cold (5 degrees C) solution (75 g glucose/300 mL water) were given in random order. After the cold glucose loading mean arterial pressure increased by a maximum of 3.9 +/- 1.3 mmHg (P less than 0.01). In contrast, BP decreased after the warm solution by a maximum of 8.0 +/- 1.1 mmHg (P less than 0.001). Neither test had an influence on plasma substance-P levels. Our data suggest that postprandial blood pressure reduction in the elderly is dependent on food temperature. Substance-P does not seem to play a role in this phenomenon.
Kuipers
H M
HM
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Jansen
R W
RW
Peeters
T L
TL
Hoefnagels
W H
WH
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013373:Substance P; D005947:Glucose