Acute effects of food on postprandial blood pressure and measures of arterial stiffness in healthy humans

Background: Recent research suggests that central pulse pressure may be a better indicator of cardiovascular disease outcomes than brachial pressure. Little information is available regarding the effect of food intake on postprandial central pressure and other measures of arterial stiffness when measured with a noninvasive pulse wave analysis (PWA) technique. Objective: The objective was to investigate the effects of water and food plus water intake on brachial and central blood pressure (BP) and measures of arterial stiffness, including augmentation pressure and augmentation index, by using the PWA technique. Design: Measurements of BP and PWA were made at fasting and for 2 h after the intake of water or breakfast (1300 kJ) in random order in 35 subjects. Results: Baseline fasting measures of BP and arterial stiffness were not significantly different before the 2 interventions. Consumption of food plus water, compared with water alone, led to a significantly lower (all P < 0.01) brachial diastolic pressure (difference: -3.8 mm Hg), central BP(difference: systolic, -6.1 mm Hg; diastolic, -3.8 mm Hg), central pulse pressure (difference: -2.4 mm Hg), mean arterial pressure (difference: -4.6 mm Hg), augmentation pressure (difference: -2.9 mm Hg), and augmentation index (difference: -5.3 mm Hg). Conclusions: Markers of central hemodynamics are sensitive to feeding state and therefore should be measured at fasting to avoid variability due to recent (within 2-3 h) food intake. This is especially important when measurements are repeated over time to assess the effect of medication or lifestyle changes on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Am J Clin Nutr 2009;90:298-303.