Effects of guar gum ingestion on postprandial blood pressure in older adults

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of guar gum on postprandial blood pressure in older people. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Community senior centers in B city, South Korea. Twenty-two older female adults aged 67 to 88 with postprandial hypotension. The participants were randomly assigned to guar gum (semi-fluid food with 9 gram) or placebo intervention during the first treatment phase. After a washout period of 1 week, the two interventions were switched to the other in the second treatment phase. Blood pressure was measured during both phases before having a meal and every 15 minutes during 120 minutes after a meal with automated sphygmomanometer. Change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) over time was significantly different between guar gum and placebo groups (F=4.07, p=0.001). Compared with placebo group, guar gum group had significantly low prevalence of postprandial hypotension (PPH) (guar gum group=18.2% vs. placebo group=72.7%; I (2)=13.20, p < 0.001). It also had significant difference in change of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) over time between guar gum and placebo groups (F=2.49, p=0.027). This findings show that guar gum could be effective on postprandial drops in blood pressure in older female adults.