title: Watermelon extract reduces blood pressure but does not change sympathovagal balance in prehypertensive and hypertensive subjects.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that watermelon extract reduces blood pressure through vasodilation. However, those studies have not verified whether sympathetic nervous activity is influenced by watermelon extract. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with watermelon extract for 6 weeks on blood pressure and sympathovagal balance of prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals. Forty volunteers participated in a randomized, double-blind, experimental and placebo-controlled study. They consumed 6 g of watermelon extract daily (n = 20; age 48.7 ± 1.9 years, 10 men) or a placebo (n = 20; age 47.4 ± 1.2 years, 11 men) for 6 weeks. Blood pressure and cardiac autonomic modulation were measured. Watermelon extract promoted a significant reduction in systolic (137.8 ± 3.9 to 126.0 ± 4.0 mmHg, p < 0.0001) and diastolic (79.2 ± 2.2 to 72.3 ± 2.0 mmHg, p < 0.001) blood pressure, but showed no differences compared to the placebo group. This significant reduction in blood pressure occurred without a significant change in sympathovagal balance from the beginning (1.7 ± 0.1) to the end of the study (1.7 ± 0.4). In conclusion, supplementation with watermelon extract reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals, but does not alter the cardiac autonomic modulation of these individuals.
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Nutrition , Federal University of Paraíba , João Pessoa , Paraíba , Brazil ;
authors.forename: Nayara Moreira Lacerda
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.affiliation: b Departments of Physical Education , Federal University of Paraíba , João Pessoa , Paraíba , Brazil ;
authors.forename: Alexandre Sérgio
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Nutrition , Federal University of Paraíba , João Pessoa , Paraíba , Brazil ;
authors.forename: Luciana Tavares
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Nutrition , Federal University of Paraíba , João Pessoa , Paraíba , Brazil ;
authors.forename: Joanna D'arc Gomes Rodrigues
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: c Departments of Molecular Biology , Federal University of Paraíba , João Pessoa , Paraíba , Brazil.
authors.forename: Darlene Camati
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Persuhn
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Nutrition , Federal University of Paraíba , João Pessoa , Paraíba , Brazil ;
authors.forename: Maria Da Conceição Rodrigues
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002956:Citrulline / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029773:Citrullus / Q000737:chemistry*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002956:Citrulline; D001120:Arginine
keywords: Arginine; autonomic nervous system; blood pressure; hypertension; watermelon