Postprandial hypotension in older Australians: Relationship to glycaemia and habitual food intake

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to document the phenomenon of postprandial hypotension (PPH) in older Australians, and examine whether glycaemia and/or habitual nutrient intake could explain its occurrence. Twenty‐three subjects (8 male, 15 female) aged 69 ± 9.7 years and with body mass index of 29.7 ± 5.2 kg/m2 participated in the study. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR) and capillary blood glucose were measured at fasting and at regular intervals for two hours following a high‐carbohydrate breakfast meal. Postprandial symptoms of dizziness and nausea were recorded. Habitual food intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Twelve of 23 subjects had clinical PPH. These subjects also had higher resting SBP (P < 0.005), a trend for a greater fall in DBP (P < 0.08), and showed no change in HR following the test meal in comparison with those without PPH. Only three subjects in each group reported symptoms of nausea. Adjusted for age, body mass index and medication use, change (Δ) in glycaemia was inversely related to ΔDBP (r = −0.53, P = 0.017) and ΔHR (r = −0.52, P = 0.019). Differences in the habitual food intake were not statistically significant, and did not predict any postprandial outcomes. In conclusion, PPH appears to be a relatively common and symptomless condition. The lack of a compensatory increase in HR may underscore the phenomenon. Glycaemia inversely influenced the changes in HR and DBP. The role of habitual dietary composition needs to be further explored.

Intermittent Walking: A Potential Treatment for Older People With Postprandial Hypotension

“…The lack of HR increase noted in this study has previously been described in other studies investigating PPH, 8,16,23,24 which suggest an additional mechanism at play contributing to the development of PPH. The most plausible explanation would be abnormalities in the baroreceptor function, which may be impaired with aging, particularly in hypertensive individuals.…”