Abstract
Nine clinically healthy young women were given two different kinds of experimental diet; a control (C: containing 5g/day crude fiber) or a high-fiber (F: 15 g/day) diet for 10days each starting from the first day of menstruation. Reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly greater on the F diet than on the C diet. Plasma renin activity was lower on the F diet than on the C diet. Urinary aldosterone and kallikrein excretions were significantly higher on the F diet than on the C diet. Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in serum were significantly lower on the F diet than on the C diet, and the atherogenic index (total cholesterol-HDL-cholesterol) was also significantly lower on the F diet. Serum insulin and glucose concentrations showed no difference between the two dietary regimens. As a high-fiber diet also contains a high amount of potassium, the reduction of blood pressure may be due to the effect of high potassium intake. A high-fiber diet may be useful for the dietary treatment of hypertensive subjects, especially those with accompanying hyperlipemia.
