title: Influence of the onion as an essential ingredient of the Mediterranean diet on arterial blood pressure and blood fluidity.
abstract: Mediterranean diet has got a favourable effect on life expectancy. One of the crucial components of the diet are onions. In an open and a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over phase-I study a spontaneous pharmacological effect 5 h after administration of an onion-olive-oil maceration capsule formulation on arterial blood pressure could be demonstrated in apparently healthy subjects. In addition to a decrease in arterial blood pressure, a significant reduction in plasma viscosity and haematocrit were observed. These results are indicating a vasodilative effect of the onion-olive-oil-maceration product. The stickiness of the platelets was reduced. The effects were stronger in subjects with reduced blood fluidity compared to those subjects with normal rheological parameters.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Fakultät, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Transfusionsmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kalus
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pindur
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radtke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mrowietz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koscielny
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiesewetter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology*; D002214:Capsules; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019697:Onions / Q000009:adverse effects; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules