Epigallocatechin gallate enhances sympathetic heart rate variability and decreases blood pressure in obese subjects: a randomized control trial

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 21628 - 14
• Main Authors: Wilasrusmee, Kittikorn Tommy, Sitticharoon, Chantacha, Keadkraichaiwat, Issarawan, Maikaew, Pailin, Pongwattanapakin, Kitchaya, Chatree, Saimai, Sririwichitchai, Rungnapa, Churintaraphan, Malika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 16.09.2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/443; 631/443/319; 631/443/592; 692/163; Adult; Autonomic nervous system; Blindness; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Catechin - administration & dosage; Catechin - analogs & derivatives; Catechin - pharmacology; Cholesterol; Dietary restrictions; Double-Blind Method; EGCG; Epigallocatechin gallate; Female; Heart rate; Heart Rate - drug effects; High density lipoprotein; Hormones; HRV; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Leptin; Male; Metabolic; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Obesity; Obesity - drug therapy; Obesity - physiopathology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sympathetic Nervous System - drug effects; Obesity; Metabolic; Hormones; HRV; MAP; EGCG
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72269-3

This study aimed to investigate effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on blood pressure (BP) and autonomic nervous system, indicated by 5-min heart rate variability (HRV) measurement in obese subjects, and determine correlations of BP with metabolic factors. In a double-blind, randomized controlled trial, obese subjects (n = 30) were randomly allocated to receive 150 mg EGCG (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) twice a day without dietary restrictions. After 8-week EGCG treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) significantly decreased, while the low-frequency (LF) to high-frequency power (HF) ratio (LF/HF ratio) significantly increased (P < 0.05 all), indicating a shift toward sympathetic dominance, either directly or indirectly after BP lowering. SBP had positive correlations with obesity parameters, leptin, insulin, and insulin resistance but had a negative correlation with insulin sensitivity. DBP was positively correlated with age and HF in normalized unit, but negatively correlated with height and LF in ms 2 . High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was negatively correlated with SBP, DBP, and MAP reflecting its protective effect against elevated BP. In conclusion, the 8-week EGCG treatment decreased BP and increased the LF/HF ratio, reflecting increased sympathetic activity, either a direct EGCG effect or an indirect compensatory response following BP reduction.