The author of the study, "Effects of early nutritional supplementation of linoleic acid in Hypertension," is Vallie Holloway PhD, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL. She is presenting her findings at the upcoming scientific conference, "The Power of Comparative Physiology: Evolution, Integration and Application" an American Physiological Society (APS) intersociety meeting scheduled for August 24-28, 2002, at the Town & Country Hotel, San Diego, CA. To learn more about the conference and presentations go to: http://www.the-aps.org/meetings/aps/san_diego/home.htm
Dr. Holloway set out to contribute to the effort to find a possible mechanism by which linoleic acid is associated with hypertension-induced cognitive impairment. These findings may assist in formulating a strategy or treatment to control cognitive decline associated with hypertension.
Methodology
Rats were randomly divided into two groups. One group was used as control and the second group was treated with linoleic acid. In these experiments, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were divided into three groups: SHRs of various ages were used: the three month old group, where the genes that trigger hypertension are fully expressed. This is then called the early hypertensive stage; the six month age group, labeled the mid-hypertensive stage; and the nine month age group, called the late hypertensive stage and drug solutions were administered.
Results
The principal findings of this study were as follows:
Linoleic acid significantly improved the vasodilatory responses within the rat thoracic artery rings in the four and five month treated spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Linoleic acid administration seems to signi
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Contact: Donna Krupa
djkrupa1@aol.com
703-967-2751
American Physiological Society
26-Aug-2002