Definition: "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance "
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19.05.2023 |
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Acetylcholine in eggplant lowers blood pressure
Aubergines are even better for the cardiovascular system than we already suspected based on animal studies. A modest amount of the deep purple vegetable - which is actually a fruit, yes, we know - contains enough acetylcholine to help lower blood pressure.
Eggplant
Eggplant also contains acetylcholine [structural formula below]. Potatoes and tomatoes, which belong to the same nightshade family as eggplant, do not contain acetylcholine.
There are approximately 2-6 milligrams in 100 grams of eggplant. You will find the substance in the whole fruit in approximately equal concentrations. If you grill or heat eggplants in the microwave, this concentration increases. [Foods. 2021 Jan 4;10(1):81.]
In animal studies, oral administration of small amounts of eggplant extract containing acetylcholine lowers blood pressure in hypertensive rats. [Food Chem. 2019 Mar 15;276:376-82.] Eggplant supplementation lowers the concentration of stress hormone in the blood.
Study
For 12 weeks, the researchers gave some of their subjects a placebo every day, while others received a daily supplement containing 1200 milligrams of dried eggplant powder. It contained 2.3 milligrams of acetylcholine. The powder also contained GABA and chlorogenic acid. According to the researchers, the amounts of GABA and chlorogenic acid were not enough to reduce blood pressure.
Results
The figures below relate to a subgroup of subjects with mildly elevated grade 1 blood pressure. The subjects had their blood pressure measured in a hospital. These measurements often result in a slightly higher blood pressure.
Quantities
Based on the amount of acetylcholine in the powder, we suspect that the Japanese used a cultivar with a relatively high amount of acetylcholine. If you want to experiment with fresh aubergines, you might want to go for a daily dose of 100 grams. Then you are reasonably sure that you are getting enough acetylcholine.
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