**1. Introduction**

Hypertension is associated with mortality and morbidity related to various cardiovascular diseases [1]. Long-term high blood pressure may lead to cardiorenal remodeling and increased the risk of tissue injuries [2]. In a 2014 evidence-based guideline on the management of adult high blood pressure, adults with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, respectively, were determined to have hypertension [3]. In addition, according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2017 Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults, adults with SBP and DBP above 130 and 80 mmHg, respectively, were defined as having hypertension, and individuals with SBP of 120–139 mmHg and DBP less than 80 mmHg were defined as having elevated blood pressure [4]. These guidelines served to increase awareness of hypertension; encourage proper antihypertensive medication usage, such as medications blocking the renin-angiotensin system; and lifestyle modification, such as adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) recommendations [5].

**Citation:** Yeh, W.-J.; Ko, J.; Cheng, W.-Y.; Yang, H.-Y. Dehulled Adlay Consumption Modulates Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Overweight and Obese Young Adults. *Nutrients* **2021**, *13*, 2305. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/nu13072305

Academic Editor: Lourdes Varela

Received: 11 June 2021 Accepted: 3 July 2021 Published: 4 July 2021

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According to a 2019 meta-analysis survey, dietary consumption of whole grains rather than refined grains may aid in the prevention of non-communicable diseases [6]. The prospective study demonstrated that greater consumption of whole grains decreased the risk of hypertension in the Japanese population [7]. The blood-pressure-lowering DASH diet also recommends whole-grain foods because they contain fiber, minerals, vitamins, and other bioactive chemical components with health benefits [8,9]. Adlay (*Coix lachrymajobi* L. var. *ma-yuen* Stapf) is a popular grain in Asian cuisine, and has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory potential [10]. Recent studies have also reported that adlay bran, which is rich in phenolic compounds, had beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses in vivo [11,12]. Daily consumption of 60 g of adlay was also found to improve plasma lipid profiles in hyperlipidemic male patients [13]. However, evidence of adlay's effectiveness in bloodpressure modulation remains limited. Only one study reported that enzymatic hydrolyzed peptides derived from adlay seed exhibited the potential to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity and to reduce blood pressure in rats [14]. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of a diet rich in dehulled adlay instead of other refined cereals on blood-pressure regulation in both spontaneously hypertensive animals and in overweight and obese adults.

#### **2. Materials and Methods**
