NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - 2-Hydroxyoleic acid, a synthetic derivative of the olive oil component oleic acid, is effective in reducing blood pressure (BP) in rats, Spanish researchers report in the February issue of Hypertension.
Dr. Pablo V. Escriba and colleagues at the University of the Balearic Island, Palma de Mallorca note that the Mediterranean diet appears to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. In particular, olive oil -- a natural source of the mono-unsaturated fatty acid oleic acid -- is known to have “moderate beneficial effects on BP, but only when high doses (are) consumed for several months.”
To determine whether a faster response might be achieved using 2-hydroxyoleic acid, the researchers administered the substance both orally and peritoneally to rats. This produced a significant and time-dependent drop in BP.
Treatment for 7 days reduced systolic BP by 20 to 26 mm Hg without affecting heart rate. The reduction, the researchers suggest, is due to processes that increase levels of cAMP, a potent vasodilator, in cardiovascular tissues.
Given these findings, the investigators conclude that 2-hydroxyoleic acid might be “the first member of a new family of antihypertensive drugs.”
Source: Hypertension 2004;43:249-254. [ Google search on this article ]
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