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Protective Effect of Dietary Fiber on Blood Pressure and Vascular Dysfunction Through Regulation of Sympathetic Tone and Immune Response in Genetic Hypertension.

Phytotherapy research : PTR
April 1, 2025
Cristina González-Correa et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether dietary fiber supplementation, specifically resistant starch (RS) and inulin-type fructans (ITF), could prevent cardiovascular damage and high blood pressure in a genetic model of neurogenic hypertension.

Results Summary

RS fiber reduced vascular oxidative stress, inflammation, and high blood pressure, while ITF failed to prevent hypertension or endothelial dysfunction. The benefits of RS were linked to reshaped gut microbiota, increased short-chain fatty acid production, and reduced sympathetic activity.

Population

Male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

12 weeks

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (16)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
diet rich in RS fiber
decrease
vascular oxidative stress
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
-
reduced
#1
diet rich in RS fiber
decrease
inflammation
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
-
reduced
#2
diet rich in RS fiber
decrease
high blood pressure
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
-
reduced
#3
diet rich in RS fiber
increase
short-chain fatty acid production
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
-
increased
#4
diet rich in RS fiber
decrease
endotoxemia
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
-
reduced
#5
diet rich in RS fiber
decrease
sympathetic activity
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
-
decreased
#6
diet rich in RS fiber
neutral
Th17 and Treg lymphocytes in mesenteric lymph nodes and aorta
spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR)
-
restored balance
#7
diet rich in RS fiber
increase
plasma levels of acetate and butyrate
SHR + RS group
-
elevated
#8
diet rich in RS fiber
increase
aortic GPR41, GRP43 and PPARδ
SHR + RS group
-
increased expression
#9
ITF treatment
no change
hypertension
SHR
-
failed to prevent
#10
ITF treatment
no change
endothelial dysfunction
SHR
-
failed to prevent
#11
FMT from the SHR + RS group
neutral
beneficial effects
recipient SHR
-
partially replicated
#12
dietary insoluble RS fiber
increase
short-chain fatty acids production in the gut
-
-
enhanced
#13
dietary insoluble RS fiber
increase
gut permeability
-
-
leads to improved
#14
dietary insoluble RS fiber
decrease
sympathetic tone
-
-
leads to reduced
#15
dietary insoluble RS fiber
decrease
vascular T-cell accumulation
-
-
leads to diminished
#16
Abstract

The mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effect of dietary fibers remain poorly understood. This study investigates whether dietary fiber supplementation can prevent cardiovascular damage and high blood pressure in a genetic model of neurogenic hypertension. Six-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their respective normotensive control, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY), were divided into four groups: Untreated WKY, untreated SHR, SHR treated with resistant starch (SHR + RS), and SHR treated with inulin-type fructans (SHR + ITF) for 12 weeks. Additionally, a faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment was conducted, transferring faecal content from treated SHR donors to recipient SHRs. A diet rich in RS fiber reduced vascular oxidative stress, inflammation, and high blood pressure. These protective effects were associated with a reshaped gut microbiota, leading to increased short-chain fatty acid production, reduced endotoxemia, decreased sympathetic activity, and a restored balance between Th17 and Treg lymphocytes in mesenteric lymph nodes and aorta. Elevated plasma levels of acetate and butyrate in the SHR + RS group correlated with increased expression of aortic GPR41, GRP43 and PPARδ. Conversely, ITF treatment failed to prevent hypertension or endothelial dysfunction in SHR. FMT from the SHR + RS group to recipient SHR partially replicated these beneficial effects. This study highlights the antihypertensive benefits of dietary insoluble RS fiber, which are attributed to enhanced short-chain fatty acids production in the gut. This leads to improved gut permeability, reduced sympathetic tone, and diminished vascular T-cell accumulation. Therefore, dietary interventions with RS fiber may offer promising therapeutic strategies for preventing hypertension.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsRats, Inbred SHRHypertensionMaleRats, Inbred WKYDietary FiberBlood PressureGastrointestinal MicrobiomeRatsOxidative StressFecal Microbiota TransplantationSympathetic Nervous SystemFatty Acids, VolatileT-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality90/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.40
Normalized Score0.72
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