1. Introduction
Endothelial dysfunction, fasting blood glucose, arterial stiffness
ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION, ARTERIAL STIFFNESS, DILATION, OXIDATIVE STRESS, COLD, ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION
Postmenopausal women (PMW) may experience endothelial dysfunction associated with arginine (ARG) deficiency relative to asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) caused by oxidative stress. Endothelial dysfunction contributes to increased blood pressure (BP) responsiveness to sympathoexcitation induced by the cold pressor test (CPT). We investigated the effects of citrulline alone (CIT) and combined with the antioxidant glutathione (CIT+GSH) on vascular function. Forty-four healthy PMW were randomized to CIT (6 g), CIT+GSH (2 g + 200 mg: SetriaThe endothelium has a major role in the regulation of vascular function and structure by releasing vasodilatory molecules [Impaired endothelial function, assessed as low brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), begins before and progresses after menopause in healthy women [Dietary strategies to increase circulating ARG may improve vascular function. The effectiveness of short-term oral ARG supplementation for improving FMD was observed in healthy older adults [The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementing with CIT alone and CIT+GSH on vascular function, assessed by brachial FMD, arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV), and BP reactivity to CPT in postmenopausal women. Moreover, we assessed fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum levels of ARG and its metabolites, and markers of oxidative stress. Our hypothesis was that CIT alone and CIT+GSH supplementations would increase brachial FMD and attenuate BP responses to sympathetic activation induced by CPT compared to a placebo in postmenopausal women.