Timing of Food Intake Drives the Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure

Rockville, Md. (December 3, 2020)—Blood pressure (BP) in healthy people drops at night up to 20% lower than the daytime average in a process known as BP dipping. Nighttime BP is considered an important gauge of BP management. When BP dipping is disrupted, it can lead to higher cardiovascular risk in addition to severe organ complications among people with high blood pressure.

The mechanisms underlying BP dipping are not fully known, but some studies have linked the capacity of the kidney to excrete sodium. The researchers in this study initially believed the timing of food intake entrains circadian rhythms of BP and renal excretion in mice. They have concluded the timing of food intake controls BP rhythms in mice independent of urine volume or sodium excretion.

Read the full article, “Timing of Food Intake Drives the Circadian Rhythm of Blood Pressure,” published ahead of print in Function. Contact the APS Communications Office or call 301.634.7314 to schedule an interview with a member of the research team.