Coconut sugar derived from coconut inflorescence sap lowers systolic blood pressure and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults: a pilot study

Abstract

Nutraceutical-based interventions hold promise to reduce blood pressure (BP) and arterial stiffness, which are two cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, the effects of coconut sap powder (CSP), an Asian sweetener and novel nutraceutical, on BP and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults (MA/O, ≥ 45 y) has yet to be established. We hypothesized CSP will decrease BP and arterial stiffness in MA/O adults. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study design, nineteen (age 55.3 ± 2.1 y) MA/O adults completed measures of brachial and carotid BP, and arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [cfPWV], common carotid artery (CCA) β-stiffness, compliance, distensibility, and Young's and Peterson's Elastic moduli) before and after 8 weeks of CSP (1.5 g/day) or placebo (1.5 g/day). A two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare group mean differences. Compared to placebo, CSP lowered brachial systolic BP (SBP) (CSP pre: 117.4 ± 2.9 vs post: 109.0 ± 2.4 mmHg, p<0.05), but not carotid SBP (p=0.12). CSP also lowered Youngs (CSP pre: 5514.4 ± 1115.4 vs post: 3690.6 ± 430.9 kPa) and Peterson's Elastic moduli (CSP pre: 22.2 ± 4.4 vs post: 19.2 ± 4.5 kPa) (p<0.05, both). A trend for CSP to lower CCA β-stiffness (p=0.06) and increase CCA compliance (p=0.07) was also observed. Arterial stiffness assessed by cfPWV did not change (p>0.05). No inflammatory or antioxidant biomarkers were affected by CSP. In summary, 8 weeks of CSP lowers brachial SBP and CCA mechanical stiffness indicating a potential cardioprotective effect in MA/O adults.

Acute effects of MitoQ on vascular endothelial function are influenced by cardiorespiratory fitness and baseline FMD in middle‐aged and older adults

“…Total body fat percentage was acquired via dual‐x‐ray absorptiometry (iDXA, enCORE, GE Healthcare) and resting HR was measured using a finger pulse oximeter (Masimo, Irvine, California). Seated brachial BP was taken as described previously (Carlini et al., 2023). A minimum of two brachial BP measurements were obtained using a manual sphygmomanometer (Welch Allyn 767 Series) on the left arm at least 1 min apart after sitting quietly for 5 min.…”

“…Aortic stiffness was determined from carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in the supine position on the right side of the body from the SphygmoCor XCEL device as previously described (Carlini et al., 2023; Fleenor et al., 2023). cfPWV was determined from simultaneously performing carotid artery applanation tonometry while a thigh BP cuff inflated to sub‐diastolic pressures acquired femoral pulse waves.…”