What makes high-fat diets raise blood pressure differently in women and men
Official title: Mechanisms Driving Enhanced Susceptibility of Females versus Males to High-Fat Diet-Induced Increases in High Blood Pressure
Funded at Augusta University · NIH-11408746 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project explores why eating lots of saturated fat may raise blood pressure more in women than men by studying immune cell changes and fat tissue.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Augusta University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Augusta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $273,885 |
| NIH project number | 5U54HL169191-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408746 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ with interest in nutrition, metabolic health, and blood pressure who are willing to discuss diet and immune factors.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not affected by high-fat dietary patterns or not willing to discuss immune or adipose tissue aspects may see limited relevance.
What this research studies
If you could contribute, this study would look at how a chronic high-saturated-fat diet affects immune cells and fat tissue to raise blood pressure, with a focus on differences between women and men. Researchers will use adult participants and consider how adipose tissue and immune signals interact to influence hypertension. The work includes examining the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway and its role in fat tissue inflammation under a high-fat diet. The goal is to understand sex-specific mechanisms so future therapies can better protect both women and men from diet-related hypertension.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A clearer picture of why high-fat diets raise blood pressure, which could guide personalized prevention and treatment strategies for hypertension.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research supports a link between high-fat diets, adipose inflammation, and blood pressure, but sex-specific mechanisms are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Augusta University
Augusta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sullivan, Jennifer C — Augusta University
- Study coordinator: Sullivan, Jennifer C
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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.