title: A systematic review of vascular and endothelial function: effects of fruit, vegetable and potassium intake.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the relationships between: 1) Potassium and endothelial function; 2) Fruits and vegetables and endothelial function; 3) Potassium and other measures of vascular function; 4) Fruits and vegetables and other measures of vascular function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An electronic search for intervention trials investigating the effect of potassium, fruits and vegetables on vascular function was performed in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Potassium appears to improve endothelial function with a dose of >40 mmol/d, however the mechanisms for this effect remain unclear. Potassium may improve measures of vascular function however this effect may be dependent on the effect of potassium on blood pressure. The effect of fruit and vegetables on endothelial function independent of confounding variables is less clear. Increased fruit and vegetable intake may improve vascular function only in high risk populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing dietary potassium appears to improve vascular function but the effect of increasing fruit and vegetable intake per se on vascular function is less clear.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, University of South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, University of South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clifton
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Science, University of South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Jennifer.Keogh@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Keogh
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017419:Potassium, Dietary
keywords: Endothelial function; Fruit; Potassium; Vascular function; Vegetable