ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFICACY OF LACTOTRIPEPTIDES ASSUMED AS FUNCTIONAL FOODS: A META-ANALYSIS OF CURRENT AVAILABLE CLINICAL TRIALS: PP.23.425

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that lactotripeptides Valine-Proline-Proline (VPP) and Isoleucine-Proline-Proline (IPP) assumed as nutraceuticals or functional foods are associated to inhibition of ACE. However data derived from clinical trials appear to be contrasting. Objective: To perform a meta-analysis of placebo-controlled clinical trials testing the antihypertensive effect of lactotripeptides assumed as nutraceuticals or functional foods. Design: Trials identified using a defined search strategy in PubMed were included in the meta-analysis, and their pooled effect was estimated with a random effects model. Results: 18 trials have been identified for which all needed data have been clearly reported. The most part of them included a small patient number, but the trials were nearly homogeneous as it regards the methodology applied. Pooled effect of peptides was -3.88 mmHg (95% CI: −6.12, −1.54) for systolic blood pressure (SBP), and −1.97 mmHg (95% CI: −3.85, -0.64) for diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The effect was much more evident in Asian patients [SBP = −7.88 mmHg (95% CI: −9.97, −4.18); DBP = −3.98 mmHg (95% CI: −5.38, −2.44)] than in Caucasian ones [SBP = −1.41 mmHg (95% CI: −3.04, 0.62); DBP = −0.41 mmHg (95% CI: −1.39, 0.59)], and not clearly related to the baseline patients age or blood pressure value, nor to the dose of lactotripeptides assumed or to the duration of the study. Conclusions: VPP and IPP lactotripeptides assumed as functional foods may lead to significantly reduced SBP, particularly in Asian subjects. The relevance of this findings in other ethnicities or associated to different dietary pattern has to be further investigated.