Nerve-driven blood vessel changes in obesity-linked high blood pressure
Sympathetic-Vascular Dysfunction in Obesity-Related Hypertension
This work looks at whether high blood sugar and blood fats make nerve signals cause bigger blood-pressure spikes in people with obesity and whether vitamin C can reduce that effect.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143721 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would help researchers understand how single bursts of nerve activity affect blood vessels in people with obesity and high blood pressure. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol they will briefly raise blood sugar or blood fats and measure nerve activity, blood-pressure responses, and markers of oxidative stress. They will give vitamin C or a placebo to see if reducing oxidative stress lessens exaggerated blood-pressure reactions, and may also test whether blocking nerve signals reduces those effects. Measurements will include direct nerve recordings and blood vessel function tests to connect the biology to real blood-pressure changes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity who have high blood pressure or insulin resistance are the most likely candidates for participation.
Not a fit: People without obesity or hypertension, children, pregnant people, or those with unstable cardiovascular disease are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new ways to prevent or reduce blood-pressure spikes in people with obesity, such as antioxidant or nerve-targeted approaches.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and small human studies implicate oxidative stress and sympathetic activity in obesity-related blood-pressure problems, but this randomized human protocol applies those ideas in a more controlled, interventional way.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holwerda, Seth William — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Holwerda, Seth William
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.