The Effect of Nutritional Aspect on Obesity and Hypertension

Dear Colleagues,

Hypertension has been a well-known modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, stroke) since the 1960s, and has been known as a risk factor for dementia and age-related macular degeneration since the late 1990s. However, it has only been known as a metabolic disease since the 1980s as a result of its evident association with obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance in the so-called metabolic syndrome. The environment through the life cycle (preconception, prenatal, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, old age) clearly participates in the etiopathogenesis and progression of hypertension, and may be actively modifiable, particularly from the nutritional point of view, in a diverse way in several ecogenetic niches. The nutritional factor more metabolically related to endothelial dysfunction characteristic of metabolic syndrome is the availability of sodium, which has an individual blood pressure response based on genetic and epigenetic factors. Other related ions such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and more (e.g., recently nitrate and nitrite) may also be involved. Other nutritional factors whose levels and availability influence endothelial dysfunction in obesity are vitamins B2 B6, B9 (folic acid) and B12, which are involved in methylation, transsulfuration and antioxidative processes. Macronutrients such as carbohydrates, particularly glucose and more recently fructose at basal state or with overload (glucose tolerance test) or under the effect of exercise and mental stress, influence the endothelial function and also have genetic variation in metabolic processes. The response of blood pressure to essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) has also been studied. In obesity, the variability of inflammatory processes associated with endothelial dysfunction and hypertension can be scientifically evidenced by biomarkers at various biological levels. This Special Issue aims to update the knowledge on the role of nutrition as a modifier of prevention in the various stages of the natural history of hypertensive disease in obesity, evidenced by basic studies and animal experimentation or applied to humans through observational and intervention epidemiological studies.

Authors are invited to contribute original research in animal studies and in humans with clinical, epidemiological, observational and intervention studies. Narrative or systematic reviews alone or accompanying meta-analyses will also be accepted.

Prof. Dr. Manuel Bicho
Dr. Ana Valente
Dr. Irene Rebelo
Guest Editors

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