Angiotensin II and the Natriuretic and Blood Pressure Response to Mental Stress in African Americans.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a contributing factor to the response pattern in African Americans (AAs) who retain rather than excrete sodium during mental stress.

Design/study Participants: Double-blind, randomized, cross-over trial of 87 healthy AAs aged 18 to 50 years.

Interventions: The study participants received either a placebo or irbesartan, (150 mg PO), an Ang II receptor antagonist, for seven days prior to stress testing.

Phylloquinone Intake Is Associated with Cardiac Structure and Function in Adolescents.

Background: Associations between childhood vitamin K consumption and cardiac structure and function have not been investigated.

Objective: We determined associations between phylloquinone (vitamin K-1) intake and left ventricular (LV) structure and function in adolescents.

Methods: We assessed diet with three to seven 24-h recalls and physical activity (PA) by accelerometry in 766 adolescents (aged 14-18 y, 50% female, 49% black).