Overview

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are most terrible killers endangering the health of Chinese residents, and hypertension is the most important risk factor. Hypertension related microvascular rarefaction and endothelial dysfunction are the common pathological basis and initiation of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Therefore, reducing blood pressure and delaying or reversing endothelial dysfunction is an effective way to treat hypertension and prevent cardiovascular disease. Alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) is a critical metabolic intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, involves in diverse cellular biological activities, such as central metabolism, antioxidative defense, epigenetic regulation, and cell proliferation. The latest research found that with the growth of age, the level of αKG is decreasing, and increasing the content of αKG can prolong the life of multiple species including human. Recent clinical trials found that αKG supplementation can effectively improve the level of αKG in cells, delay aging, improve the metabolic process of cells without adverse reactions. However, the effect of αKG supplementation on reducing blood pressure and protecting vascular endothelial function has not been reported. Therefore, this study aims to focus on hypertension, a major chronic disease, and to observe the effects of αKG supplementation on endothelial function and blood pressure in patients with hypertension, so as to provide a new treatment strategy for hypertension and associated endothelial dysfunction.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

        1、 Primary hypertension (office blood pressure: systolic blood pressure 130～159 mmHg and/or
        diastolic blood pressure 80～99 mmHg, which meets the diagnostic criteria of hypertension
        class 1 of 2018AHA hypertension guidelines) and accompanied by vascular dysfunction
        (FMD<5%); 2、 Age between 18 and 65 years old; 3, Not using any drugs and dietary
        supplements that affect blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in the last 3
        months, mainly including antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, hypoglycemic drugs and natural
        plant extract antioxidants; 4、 Voluntarily sign the informed consent form after fully
        understanding the purpose and process of the study, disease characteristics, drug effects,
        methods of relevant examinations, and potential risks/benefits of the study.
        Exclusion Criteria:
          1. Presence of secondary hypertension (those who have been diagnosed with secondary
             hypertension in the past and have not been definitively cured, and if secondary
             hypertension is suspected, a complete examination is required to exclude common
             secondary hypertension, including renal hypertension (renal parenchymal lesions, renal
             artery stenosis), primary aldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, aortic
             constriction, and severe obstructive sleep apnea);
          2. Acute myocardial infarction within the past 6 months;
          3. recent history of stroke (within 6 months); 4, Dilated heart disease, hypertrophic
             cardiomyopathy, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, severe heart valve
             disease (severe valve stenosis and or regurgitation);
        5. patients with a combination of serious physical illnesses, such as cancer; 6, Severe
        hepatic or renal dysfunction (ALT and or AST) ≥ 3 times the upper limit of normal, or
        dialysis end-stage renal disease or eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, or serum creatinine > 2.5
        mg/dL [> 221 μmol/L]); 7. Symptomatic heart failure or reduced left ventricular ejection
        fraction (<40%) within the past 6 months; 8. History of hypersensitivity to the study drug
        or to its components after administration; 9. Participating in other clinical studies; 10.
        Patients with mental illness who are unable to cooperate; 11, Pregnant, lactating or
        expectant mothers;