title: Daily liquorice consumption for two weeks increases augmentation index and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liquorice ingestion often elevates blood pressure, but the detailed haemodynamic alterations are unknown. We studied haemodynamic changes induced by liquorice consumption in 20 subjects versus 30 controls with average blood pressures of 120/68 and 116/64 mmHg, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haemodynamic variables were measured in supine position before and after two weeks of liquorice consumption (daily glycyrrhizin dose 290-370 mg) with tonometric recording of radial blood pressure, pulse wave analysis, and whole-body impedance cardiography. Thirty age-matched healthy subjects maintaining their normal diet were studied as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two weeks of liquorice ingestion elevated peripheral and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure (by 7/4 and 8/4 mmHg, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 2-11/1-8 and 3-13/1-8, respectively, P<0.05), and increased extracellular volume by 0.5 litres (P<0.05 versus controls). Also augmentation index adjusted to heart rate 75/min (from 7% to 11%, 95% CI for change 0.3-7.5, P<0.05) and aortic pulse pressure (by 4 mmHg, 95% CI 1-7, P<0.05) were elevated indicating increased wave reflection from the periphery. In contrast, peripheral (-3/-0.3 mmHg) and central blood pressure (-2/-0.5 mmHg), aortic pulse pressure (-1 mmHg), and augmentation index adjusted to heart rate 75/min (from 9% to 7%) decreased numerically but not statistically significantly without changes in extracellular volume in the control group. Heart rate, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, and pulse wave velocity did not differ between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two weeks of daily liquorice consumption increased extracellular volume, amplified pressure wave reflection from the periphery, and elevated central systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  EU Clinical Trials Register EudraCT 2006-002065-39 ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01742702.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Miia H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Leskinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Elina J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hautaniemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tahvanainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jenni K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Päällysaho
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Antti J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tikkakoski
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kähönen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Tiit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kööbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Research Unit, Seinäjoki Central Hospital, Seinäjoki, Finland.
authors.forename: Onni
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Niemelä
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mustonen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland; Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilkka H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Pörsti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002182:Candy; D005260:Female; D006035:Glycyrrhiza; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis