title: Antihypertensive properties of plant-based prebiotics.
abstract: Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Although various drugs for its treatment have been synthesized, the occurring side effects have generated the need for natural interventions for the treatment and prevention of hypertension. Dietary intervention such as the administration of prebiotics has been seen as a highly acceptable approach. Prebiotics are indigestible food ingredients that bypass digestion and reach the lower gut as substrates for indigenous microflora. Most of the prebiotics used as food adjuncts, such as inulin, fructooligosaccharides, dietary fiber and gums, are derived from plants. Experimental evidence from recent studies has suggested that prebiotics are capable of reducing and preventing hypertension. This paper will discuss some of the mechanisms involved, the evidence generated from both in-vitro experiments and in-vivo trials and some controversial findings that are raised.
authors.affiliation: School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siok-Koon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Lay-Gaik
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.affiliation: School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ting-Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Min-Tze
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Liong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D056692:Prebiotics
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D056692:Prebiotics