Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
BMC Medicine
Volume
22
Issue
1
PubMed ID
39218859
Publisher
Springer
School
Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute / School of Medical and Health Sciences / School of Science
Funders
Edith Cowan University (G1004405) / Department of Health Western Australia (G1004519) / Australian Government Research Training Program / Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation (CAF 130/2020, CAF 127/2020) / Western Australian Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (IG2021/5) / National Health and Medical Research Council / National Heart Foundation (102498, 102817)
Grant Number
NHMRC Number : 1172987
Abstract
Background: Higher cruciferous vegetable intake is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk in observational studies. The pathways involved remain uncertain. We aimed to determine whether cruciferous vegetable intake (active) lowers 24-h brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP; primary outcome) compared to root and squash vegetables (control) in Australian adults with mildly elevated BP (SBP 120–160 mmHg inclusive). Methods: In this randomized, controlled, crossover trial, participants completed two 2-week dietary interventions separated by a 2-week washout. Cruciferous vegetables were compared to root and squash vegetables (~ 300 g/day) consumed with lunch and dinner meals. Participants were blinded to which interventions were the active and control. Adherence was assessed using food diaries and biomarkers (S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide (SMCSO, active) and carotenoids (control)). Twenty-four-hour brachial ambulatory SBP and secondary outcomes were assessed pre- and post each intervention. Differences were tested using linear mixed effects regression. Results: Eighteen participants were recruited (median (IQR) age: 68 (66–70); female: n = 16/18; mean ± SD clinic SBP: 135.9 ± 10.0 mmHg). For both interventions, 72% participants had 100% adherence (IQR: 96.4–100%). SMCSO and carotenoids were significantly different between interventions (mean difference active vs. control SMCSO: 22.93 mg/mL, 95%CI 15.62, 30.23, P < 0.0001; carotenoids: − 0.974 mg/mL, 95%CI − 1.525, − 0.423, P = 0.001). Twenty-four-hour brachial SBP was significantly reduced following the active vs. control (mean difference − 2.5 mmHg, 95%CI − 4.2, − 0.9, P = 0.002; active pre: 126.8 ± 12.6 mmHg, post: 124.4 ± 11.8 mmHg; control pre: 125.5 ± 12.1 mmHg, post: 124.8 ± 13.1 mmHg, n = 17), driven by daytime SBP (mean difference − 3.6 mmHg, 95%CI − 5.4, − 1.7, P < 0.001). Serum triglycerides were significantly lower following the active vs. control (mean difference − 0.2 mmol/L, 95%CI − 0.4, − 0.0, P = 0.047). Conclusions: Increased intake of cruciferous vegetables resulted in reduced SBP compared to root and squash vegetables. Future research is needed to determine whether targeted recommendations for increasing cruciferous vegetable intake benefits population health. Trial registration: Clinical trial registry ACTRN12619001294145. https://www.anzctr.org.au
DOI
10.1186/s12916-024-03577-8
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Connolly, E. L., Liu, A. H., Radavelli-Bagatini, S., Shafaei, A., Boyce, M. C., Wood, L. G., ... & Blekkenhorst, L. C. (2024). Cruciferous vegetables lower blood pressure in adults with mildly elevated blood pressure in a randomized, controlled, crossover trial: The VEgetableS for vaScular hEaLth (VESSEL) study. BMC Medicine, 22(1), 353. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03577-8