Anti-Hypertensive Effect of γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)-Rich Chlorella on High-Normal Blood Pressure and Borderline Hypertension in Placebo-Controlled Double Blind Study

• Published in: Clinical and experimental hypertension (1993) Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 342 - 354
• Main Authors: Shimada, Morio, Hasegawa, Takashi, Nishimura, Chiaki, Kan, Hiroko, Kanno, Toshihiro, Nakamura, Toshio, Matsubayashi, Tsuneo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Informa UK Ltd 01.01.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Antihypertensive Agents - adverse effects; Antihypertensive Agents - pharmacology; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body Mass Index; Cardiology. Vascular system; Chlorella; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; double-blind clinical study; Double-Blind Method; Female; GABA-rich Chlorella; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - adverse effects; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacology; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - therapeutic use; Heart Rate - drug effects; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; hypertension; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts - adverse effects; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA); Hypertension; Chlorella; double-blind clinical study; GABA-rich Chlorella; Neurotransmitter; Double blind study; GABA; γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA); Cardiovascular disease; Arterial pressure; Blood pressure; Borderline hypertension
• ISSN: 1064-1963; 1525-6006
• DOI: 10.1080/10641960902977908

The anti-hypertensive effect of GABA-rich Chlorella was studied after oral administration for 12 weeks in the subjects with high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension in the placebo-controlled, double-blind manner in order to investigate if GABA-rich Chlorella, a dietary supplement, is useful in control of blood pressure. Eighty subjects with Systolic blood pressure (SBP) 130-159 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 85-99 mmHg (40 subjects group) took the blinded substance of GABA-rich Chlorella (20 mg as γ-aminobutyric acid) or placebo twice daily for 12 weeks, and had follow-up observation for an additional 4 weeks. Systolic blood pressure in the subjects given GABA-rich Chlorella significantly decreased compared with placebo (p < 0.01). Diastolic blood pressure had the tendency to decrease after intake of GABA-rich Chlorella. Neither adverse events nor abnormal laboratory findings were reported throughout the study period. Reduction of SBP in the subjects with borderline hypertension was higher than those in the subjects with high-normal blood pressure. These results suggest that GABA-rich Chlorella significantly decreased high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension, and is a beneficial dietary supplement for prevention of the development of hypertension.