Nutr Res Pract.  2017 Oct;11(5):388-395. 10.4162/nrp.2017.11.5.388.

Antihypertensive effect of Ganjang (traditional Korean soy sauce) on Sprague-Dawley Rats

• Mun EG
• Sohn HS
• Kim MS
• Cha YS

• KMID: 2390131
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2017.11.5.388

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Although Korean fermented foods contain large amounts of salt, which is known to exacerbate health problems, these foods still have beneficial effects such as anti-hypertension, anti-cancer, and anti-colitis properties. We hypothesized that ganjang may have different effects on blood pressure compared to same concentrations of salt.
MATERIALS/METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (CT), NaCl (NC), and ganjang (GJ) groups and orally administered with 8% NaCl concentration for 9 weeks. The systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum chemistry, Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations and renal gene expressions were measured.
RESULTS
The SBP was significantly increased in the NC group compared to the GJ and CT groups. In addition, the Na+ concentration in urine was higher in the GJ and NC groups than the CT group, but the urine volume was increased in the GJ group compared to the other groups. The serum renin levels were decreased in the GJ group compared to the CT group, while the serum aldosterone level was decreased in the GJ group relative to the NC group. The mRNA expression of the renin, angiotensin II type I receptor, and mineralocorticoid receptor were significantly lower in the GJ group compared to other groups. Furthermore, GJ group showed the lowest levels of genes for Na⁺ transporter in kidney cortex such as Na⁺/K⁺ ATPaseα1 (NKAα1), Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 3 (NHE3), Na⁺/HCO₃⁻ co-exchanger (NBC), and carbonic anhydrases II (CAII).
CONCLUSIONS
The decreased SBP in the GJ could be due to decreased renin and aldosterone levels in serum and increased urinary volume and excretion of Na⁺ with its transporter gene alteration. Therefore, ganjang may have antihypertensive effect despite its high contents of salt.

Keyword

Ganjang; dietary salt; hypertension; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; traditional Korean soy sauce

MeSH Terms

Aldosterone
Angiotensin II
Blood Pressure
Carbonic Anhydrases
Chemistry
Gene Expression
Hypertension
Kidney Cortex
Rats, Sprague-Dawley*
Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
Renin
Renin-Angiotensin System
RNA, Messenger
Aldosterone
Angiotensin II
Carbonic Anhydrases
RNA, Messenger
Receptors, Mineralocorticoid
Renin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Manufacturing process diagram for ganjang

• 

  Fig. 2 Systolic blood pressure for experimental period. Points are mean ± SD (n = 8). Values with different letters indicate statistical difference (P < 0.05) by Duncan's multiple range test (a > b). CT, Control; NC, NaCl group; GJ, ganjang group.

• 

  Fig. 3 Renin, angiotensin II, and aldosterone level in serum. Values are shown as the means ± SD. Values with different letters within a column are significantly different from each other at P < 0.05 by Duncan's multiple range test (a > b). CT, Control; NC, NaCl group; GJ, ganjang group.

• 

  Fig. 4 RASS relative gene expression in kidney cortex. Values are shown as the means ± SD. Values with different letters within a column are significantly different from each other at P < 0.05 by Duncan's multiple range test (a > b > c). CT, Control; NC, NaCl group; GJ, ganjang group. ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; AT1 receptor, angiotensin II type 1 receptor; MR, mineralocorticoid receptor.

• 

  Fig. 5 Sodiumtransporter gene expression in kidney cortex. Values are shown as the means ± SD. Values with different letters within a column are significantly different from each other at P < 0.05 by Duncan's multiple range test (a > b > c). CT, Control; NC, NaCl group; GJ, ganjang group. NKAα1, Na+/K+ ATPaseα1; NBC, Na+/HCO3- co-exchanger; CAII, carbonic anhydrases II; NHE3, Na+/H+ exchanger 3; NCX, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.

• 

  Fig. 6 Diagram of the effect of ganjang compared to table salt. When compared to table salt intake, renin and aldosterone secretion was decreased with ganjang. MR, NKAα1, NBC, NHE3, and CAII mRNA were also decreased, indicating a decrease of Na+ reabsorption. Therefore, the results from this study showed that the probability of hypertension is lower in a diet including ganjang compared to a high-salt diet, evident by down regulation of sodium transporters in the GJ group compared to the NC group. CT, Control; NC, NaCl group; GJ, ganjang group; ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; AT1 receptor, angiotensin II type 1 receptor; MR, mineralcorticoid receptor; NKAα1, Na+/K+ ATPaseα1; NBC, Na+/HCO3- co-exchanger; NHE3, Na+/H+ exchanger 3; CAII, carbonic anhydrases II; NCX, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.

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