The effects of melatonin on vascular function, oxidative stress and blood pressure reactivity during a high sodium diet
type: CreativeWork
description: High sodium diets (HSD) can reduce the ability of the arteries to properly dilate (i.e., vascular dysfunction), partially due to increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS). HSD can also cause exaggerated increases in blood pressure (BP) during different physiological perturbations (BP reactivity). Vascular dysfunction and increased BP reactivity are directly related to future atherosclerosis and hypertension (HTN) development, respectively, and thus, to CVD mortality. Melatonin, a hormone synthesized mainly at night from the pineal gland, ameliorates ROS in healthy and clinical populations, enhances mechanisms underlying proper vascular function in in vitro studies and improves in vivo endothelial function. Limited literature indicates that melatonin inhibits the sympathetic system responses and increases parasympathetic system responses. OBJECTIVES: 1) Determine the effects of melatonin on vascular function after 10 days of HSD. 2) Determine the effects of melatonin on BP responses after 10 days of HSD. 3) Determine the effects of melatonin on ROS levels after 10 days of HSD. HYPOTHESES: 1) Melatonin supplementation will increase vascular function on HSD compared to HSD alone. 2) Melatonin supplementation will decrease BP reactivity during isometric handgrip exercise (IHG) and post-exercise ischemia (PEI), and cold pressor test (CPT) on HSD compared to HSD alone. 3) Melatonin supplementation will decrease ROS levels on HSD compared to HSD alone. METHODS: Healthy, non-hypertensive and non-obese young adults were recruited. Participants underwent a randomized cross-over study including a 10-day HSD (6,900mg sodium/d) and supplemented with 10 mg of melatonin (HSD+MEL) and a 10-day HSD (6,900 mg sodium/d) and supplemented with placebo (lactose) (HSD+PL). 24-h BP was measured with an ambulatory monitor on day 8 of each intervention. Vascular function was assessed at both the conduit artery level via brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and at the microvascular l…
abstract: High sodium diets (HSD) can reduce the ability of the arteries to properly dilate (i.e., vascular dysfunction), partially due to increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS). HSD can also cause exaggerated increases in blood pressure (BP) during different physiological perturbations (BP reactivity). Vascular dysfunction and increased BP reactivity are directly related to future atherosclerosis and hypertension (HTN) development, respectively, and thus, to CVD mortality. Melatonin, a hormone synthesized mainly at night from the pineal gland, ameliorates ROS in healthy and clinical populations, enhances mechanisms underlying proper vascular function in in vitro studies and improves in vivo endothelial function. Limited literature indicates that melatonin inhibits the sympathetic system responses and increases parasympathetic system responses. OBJECTIVES: 1) Determine the effects of melatonin on vascular function after 10 days of HSD. 2) Determine the effects of melatonin on BP responses after 10 days of HSD. 3) Determine the effects of melatonin on ROS levels after 10 days of HSD. HYPOTHESES: 1) Melatonin supplementation will increase vascular function on HSD compared to HSD alone. 2) Melatonin supplementation will decrease BP reactivity during isometric handgrip exercise (IHG) and post-exercise ischemia (PEI), and cold pressor test (CPT) on HSD compared to HSD alone. 3) Melatonin supplementation will decrease ROS levels on HSD compared to HSD alone. METHODS: Healthy, non-hypertensive and non-obese young adults were recruited. Participants underwent a randomized cross-over study including a 10-day HSD (6,900mg sodium/d) and supplemented with 10 mg of melatonin (HSD+MEL) and a 10-day HSD (6,900 mg sodium/d) and supplemented with placebo (lactose) (HSD+PL). 24-h BP was measured with an ambulatory monitor on day 8 of each intervention. Vascular function was assessed at both the conduit artery level via brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and at the microvascular l…
author: Ramos Gonzalez, Macarena
keywords: Blood pressure, Blood pressure reactivity, High sodium, Melatonin, Oxidative stress, Vascular function
date published: 2022
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:11:20Z
provider: University of Delaware
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Delaware

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.58088/580s-rj75