title: Effects of Rubus occidentalis extract on blood pressure in patients with prehypertension: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) is known for improving vascular function. However, there has been no study evaluating its effects on 24-h systolic and diastolic blood pressure in prehypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to examine those effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with prehypertension (N = 45) were prospectively randomized into a moderate-dose black raspberry group (n = 15, 1500 mg/d), a high-dose black raspberry group (n = 15, 2500 mg/d), or a placebo group (n = 15) during an 8-wk follow-up period. Raspberries were consumed in the form of a dried powder extract that was fashioned into capsules. The capsules contained 187.5 and 312.5 mg of raspberry powder, which was equivalent to 1500 and 2500 mg raspberries. Ambulatory 24-h blood pressure (BP); central BP; pulse-wave velocity; abdominal visceral fat; serum renin; angiotensin-converting enzyme; and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were measured at baseline and at 8-wk follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-dose black raspberry significantly reduced 24-h systolic blood pressure (SBP; 3.3 ± 10 mm Hg versus -6.7 ± 11.8 mm Hg; P < 0.05) and nighttime SBP (5.4 ± 10.6 mm Hg versus -4.5 ± 11.3 mm Hg; P < 0.05) compared with controls during the 8-wk follow-up. Black raspberry powder did not produce any significant changes in most of the parameters other than BP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of black raspberry significantly lowered 24-h BP in prehypertensive patients during the 8-wk follow-up. Black raspberry used as a dietary supplement could be beneficial in reducing SBP in prehypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Saem
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: psyche94@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Soon Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Gochang Black Raspberry Research Institute, Gochang-gun, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Bum
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Gochang Black Raspberry Research Institute, Gochang-gun, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Wung
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol Woong
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Do-Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D056910:Republic of Korea; D065856:Rubus / Q000737:chemistry*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: C573420:ICAM1 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; C051321:SERPINE1 protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A; D012083:Renin
keywords: 24-h blood pressure; Arterial stiffness; Black raspberry; Central blood pressure; Prehypertension