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Cooking with sesame, rice bran oils may lower BP
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New research suggests that cooking with a combination of sesame and rice bran oils lowers BP and improves cholesterol levels.
The prospective, randomized, open-label, dietary intervention study included 300 patients (mean age, 57 years) in New Delhi, India, who had mild to moderately high hypertension. Researchers randomly assigned patients to one of three groups for 60 days: cooking with a sesame and rice bran oil blend (about 35 g oil per day); a daily calcium channel blocker (30 mg); and cooking with the oil blend plus a daily calcium channel blocker. BP was measured at baseline, 15, 30, 45 and 60 days, and lipid profile was measured at baseline and 60 days.
According to study results presented at the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions, a decrease in systolic BP was observed in all three groups: an average of 14 points for the oil blend group; 16 points for the calcium channel blocker group; and 36 points for the oil blend plus calcium channel blocker group. Decreases in diastolic BP were also recorded: 11 points; 12 points; and 24 points, respectively.
Total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels were also reduced in the groups using the oil blend alone (18%, 26% and 12.6%, respectively) and the oil blend plus calcium channel blocker (19.7%, 27% and 13.5%, respectively). HDL levels increased by 9.5% in the oil blend group and 10.9% in the oil blend plus calcium channel blocker group. No significant change in cholesterol was observed for the medication alone group.
“Rice bran oil, like sesame oil, is low in saturated fat and appears to improve a patient’s cholesterol profile,” Devarajan Sankar, MD, PhD, a research scientist in the department of cardiovascular disease at Fukuoka University Chikushi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan, said in a press release. “Additionally, it may reduce heart disease risk in other ways, including being a substitute for less-healthy oils and fats in the diet.”
For more information:
Sankar D. Abstract #186. Presented at: the American Heart Association’s High Blood Pressure Research 2012 Scientific Sessions; Sept. 19-22, 2012; Washington, D.C.
Disclosure: Adani Wilmar Limited of Gujarat, India, donated the oil blend (Vivo) for use in the study. The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.