Effects of resistant starch on blood pressure and autonomic function in women with the risk of metabolic syndrome: A randomized double-blind pilot study
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Family Practice and Community Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of Family Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea
- 3Department of Food Sciences, National Institute of Crop and Food Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea
- 4Department of Food & Nutrition, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Republic of Korea
- 5Family Medicine and Functional Medicine Clinic, Greencross I-MED Gangnam Medical Center, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Objective: Resistant starch is associated with metabolic benefits, but whether autonomic regulation links resistant starch intake to cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. This study examined the effects of resistant starch on heart rate variability and blood pressure in women with features of metabolic syndrome.
Methods: In this 8-week randomized, double-blind pilot trial, 30 women (aged ≥ 40 years) with ≥2 metabolic syndrome components were assigned to a high-resistant starch or low-resistant starch group. The primary outcome was the change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to week 8. Secondary outcomes included heart rate variability-related autonomic parameters, whereas other blood pressure and metabolic syndrome-related variables were evaluated as exploratory outcomes.
Results: Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly within the high-resistant starch group (p = 0.037), although the baseline-adjusted between-group difference was not statistically significant. This change occurred without corresponding improvements in body mass index or triglyceride levels. Group-level heart rate variability differences did not reach statistical significance; however, exploratory analyses suggested a favorable directional pattern in global heart rate variability composite scores among participants with lower baseline autonomic activity (p = 0.06).
Conclusions: High-resistant starch intake demonstrated exploratory signals of reduced systolic blood pressure and heart rate variability-related autonomic adaptation, particularly among participants with lower baseline autonomic activity. These findings warrant confirmation in adequately powered randomized controlled trials.
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BibTeX
@article{lee2026effects,
title = {{Effects of resistant starch on blood pressure and autonomic function in women with the risk of metabolic syndrome: A randomized double-blind pilot study}},
author = {Seok-Hoon Lee and Hyang-Rae Lee and Min-Sook Kang and Yong-Ju Lee and Seyoung Ju and Sang-Hoon Lee and Nam-Seok Joo},
journal = {The Journal of International Medical Research},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/03000605261477885},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605261477885},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of resistant starch on blood pressure and autonomic function in women with the risk of metabolic syndrome: A randomized double-blind pilot study
AU - Seok-Hoon Lee
AU - Hyang-Rae Lee
AU - Min-Sook Kang
AU - Yong-Ju Lee
AU - Seyoung Ju
AU - Sang-Hoon Lee
AU - Nam-Seok Joo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/17
JO - The Journal of International Medical Research
DO - 10.1177/03000605261477885
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/03000605261477885
AB - Objective: Resistant starch is associated with metabolic benefits, but whether autonomic regulation links resistant starch intake to cardiovascular outcomes remains unclear. This study examined the effects of resistant starch on heart rate variability and blood pressure in women with features of metabolic syndrome. Methods: In this 8-week randomized, double-blind pilot trial, 30 women (aged ≥ 40 years) with ≥2 metabolic syndrome components were assigned to a high-resistant starch or low-resistant starch group. The primary outcome was the change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to week 8. Secondary outcomes included heart rate variability-related autonomic parameters, whereas other blood pressure and metabolic syndrome-related variables were evaluated as exploratory outcomes. Results: Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly within the high-resistant starch group (p = 0.037), although the baseline-adjusted between-group difference was not statistically significant. This change occurred without corresponding improvements in body mass index or triglyceride levels. Group-level heart rate variability differences did not reach statistical significance; however, exploratory analyses suggested a favorable directional pattern in global heart rate variability composite scores among participants with lower baseline autonomic activity (p = 0.06). Conclusions: High-resistant starch intake demonstrated exploratory signals of reduced systolic blood pressure and heart rate variability-related autonomic adaptation, particularly among participants with lower baseline autonomic activity. These findings warrant confirmation in adequately powered randomized controlled trials.
SN - 0300-0605
SN - 1473-2300
ER -