Abstract
In pre-hypertension, moderate control of blood pressure (BP) can be obtained by a nutritional approach. The effects of a diet enriched with defatted larvae of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (TM) endowed with ACE inhibitory activity was studied in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in the age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto strain. These were fed for 4 weeks with standard laboratory rodent chow supplemented with or without TM or captopril. In SHR, the TM diet caused a significant reduction in BP, heart rate and coronary perfusion pressure, as well as an increase in red blood cell glutathione/glutathione disulphide ratio. Rat brain slices of SHR were more resistant to oxidative stress and contained lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, while vascular and liver enzyme-activities were not affected. These results suggest that TM can be considered a new functional food that can lower BP in vivo and thus control cardiovascular-associated risk factors such as hypertension.
Highlights
Hypertension is the main risk factor for diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and dementia
Basal blood pressure was much higher in hypertensive than in Wistar Kyoto strain (WKY) rats (Fig 2, panel a)
Only the former showed a significant increase, which was reduced by Tenebrio molitor (TM) and captopril supplementation
Summary
Hypertension is the main risk factor for diseases such as coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and dementia. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases and related deaths is expected to rise worldwide. Antihypertensive, cardio- and neuro-protective effects of T. molitor
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