Hemp seed protein and its hydrolysate compared with casein protein consumption in adults with hypertension: a double-blind crossover study

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 120; no. 1; pp. 56 - 65
• Main Authors: Samsamikor, Maryam, Mackay, Dylan S, Mollard, Rebecca C, Alashi, Adeola M, Aluko, Rotimi E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2024; American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc; American Society for Nutrition
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Aged; ambulatory blood pressure; Angiotensin; angiotensin-converting enzyme; antihypertensive properties; bioactive peptides; Biological activity; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Cannabis - chemistry; Casein; Caseins - administration & dosage; Consumption; Cross-Over Studies; Double-Blind Method; Female; Heat shock proteins; Hemp; hemp seed protein; Humans; Hydrolysates; Hypertension; Hypertension - diet therapy; Hypertension - drug therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Nitric oxide; Original; Peptides; Peptidyl-dipeptidase A; plant protein; Plant Proteins - administration & dosage; protein hydrolysate; Protein Hydrolysates - administration & dosage; Proteins; Renin; Seeds - chemistry; ABPM; SBP; HPH; NO; GI; RCT; ACE; FI; HSP; RAAS; antihypertensive properties; BP; hemp seed protein; RCFTR; bioactive peptides; DBP; protein hydrolysate; renin; plant protein; ambulatory blood pressure; Ang; SHR; hypertension; angiotensin-converting enzyme
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.05.001

The effects of consuming hemp seed protein (HSP) as well as its hydrolysate-derived bioactive peptide (HSP+) on blood pressure (BP) has not, to our knowledge, been investigated in humans. We aimed to investigate how consumption of HSP and its hydrolysate modulates 24-h systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) and plasma biomarkers of BP compared with casein. In a double-blind, randomized, crossover design trial, 35 adults who had mild hypertension with SBP between 130 and 160 mmHg and DBP ≤110 mmHg were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned to varying sequences of 3 6-wk treatments, 50 g casein/d, 50 g HSP/d, or 45 g HSP plus 5 g HSP-derived bioactive peptides/d (HSP+), separated by a 2-wk washout period. Treatment effects were assessed with a linear mixed model with repeated measures. Compared with casein, after HSP+ consumption, 24-h SBP and 24-h DBP decreased from 135.1 and 80.0 mmHg to 128.1 ± 1.6 (P < 0.0001) and 76.0 ± 1.4 mmHg (P < 0.0001), respectively, whereas these values were 133.5 ± 1.6 and 78.9 ± 1.4 mmHg after HSP consumption (P < 0.0001). There were no differences between the HSP and HSP+ consumption in plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, renin, or nitric oxide (NO) concentrations. However, these 2 treatments were able to lower both ACE and renin activities and raise NO concentration in plasma compared with casein. These results suggest that hemp protein consumption, as well as in combination with bioactive peptides, may have a role in the dietary management of hypertension. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03508895.