604 | id == 604
604 | category_id == 96
604 | category_order == 29
604 | category_name == Blood Pressure
604 | category_color == #C47AC0
604 | slug == AGT-blood-pressure
604 | title == A System Essential for Raising Blood Pressure (AGT)
604 | meta_description == AGT raises blood pressure. A variant of AGT has been associated with high blood pressure. Read more here.
604 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The <em>AGT</em> gene helps regulate&nbsp;blood pressure. How might a variant of <em>AGT</em> promote abnormally high blood pressure? Find out here.&nbsp;</strong></p>
604 | overall_score_text == Your Blood Pressure Score (based on AGT gene)
604 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/AGT-Blood-Pressure.jpg
604 | author_id == 14
604 | author_name == Shany Lahan
604 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
604 | author_order == 5
604 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
604 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
604 | reviewer == None
604 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
604 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
604 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
604 | publish_date == 2021
604 | publish_date == 1
604 | publish_date == 15
604 | avg_rating == 5.0
604 | tags_id == 424
604 | tags_name == AGT gene
604 | tags_id == 1147
604 | tags_name == Aldosterone
604 | tags_id == 1149
604 | tags_name == Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme
604 | tags_id == 1148
604 | tags_name == Angiotensin I
604 | tags_id == 746
604 | tags_name == Angiotensin II
604 | tags_id == 1143
604 | tags_name == Angiotensinogen
604 | tags_id == 1145
604 | tags_name == Diuretic
604 | tags_id == 1139
604 | tags_name == High Blood Pressure
604 | tags_id == 335
604 | tags_name == Hypertension
604 | tags_id == 1146
604 | tags_name == Kidneys
604 | tags_id == 689
604 | tags_name == Potassium
604 | tags_id == 1151
604 | tags_name == Renin-Angiotensin System
604 | tags_id == 334
604 | tags_name == Sodium
604 | tags_id == 1144
604 | tags_name == Vasoconstriction
604 | permissions_favorite == False
604 | permissions_rate == False
604 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGT</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for angiotensinogen, an essential component of the blood pressure-raising renin-angiotensin system. A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in high blood pressure by increasing angiotensinogen production. Diet and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by blocking an enzyme involved in the renin-angiotensin system.</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>AGT</em></strong><strong> and Blood Pressure</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/agt/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGT</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene codes for angiotensinogen, the first player in the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/low-higher-renin-how-to-increase-decrease-renin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">renin-angiotensin system</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (RAS). RAS involves multiple precursors and enzymes that ultimately function to raise blood pressure when blood pressure is low [</span><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/agt/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The resulting product of RAS is angiotensin II, which promotes blood vessel constriction. Angiotensin II can also boost </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/need-know-aldosterone-health-effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">aldosterone</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a hormone that signals the kidneys to reabsorb sodium and water and excrete potassium. High water retention increases blood volume, putting more pressure on blood vessels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470410/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In an attempt to ameliorate high blood pressure (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">hypertension</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">), scientists have formulated drugs that block RAS. Some of these medications inhibit </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/5-natural-ace-inhibitors-with-clinical-trials/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">angiotensin-converting enzyme</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (ACE), which would otherwise help convert precursor angiotensin I to angiotensin II [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11030016/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">has been associated with high blood pressure. This variant may increase angiotensinogen production, thereby promoting the production of angiotensin II and aldosterone [</span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0303-9"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]. </span></p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>AGT</em></strong><strong> Results for Blood Pressure</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7368086676182857*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>AGT </em></strong><a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs699/"><strong>rs699</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0303-9"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Higher odds of high blood pressure</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with high blood pressure</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*2316497550682306*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Lowering Blood Pressure</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*4794925048774279*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Garlic</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cell- and animal-based studies have reported that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/garlic-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">garlic</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may act as an ACE inhibitor, suggesting that it may counter the effects of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">AGT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">risk variants [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24461311"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27293465"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Garlic may also lower blood pressure by increasing calcium and reducing </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-lower-c-reactive-protein/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> levels in the blood. Moreover, its active sulfur-containing compound allicin increases blood hydrogen sulfide concentrations, which stimulates the production of the vessel-widening molecule nitric oxide [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26764327/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4266250/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27796863/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several meta-analyses found that supplementation with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">garlic</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> extract (600-2,400 mg/day) may lower systolic (by 7-16 mmHg) and diastolic (by 5-9 mmHg) blood pressure in hypertensive people but not in those with normal blood pressure [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2442048/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19017826/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26764327/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25557383/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25239480/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26764326/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Garlic may lower blood pressure by acting as an ACE inhibitor.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Pomegranate</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/pomegranate/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pomegranate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may help with blood pressure by blocking ACE. Moreover, its antioxidant polyphenols may protect the blood vessels [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4007340/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A meta-analysis of 8 clinical trials found that pomegranate juice lowered systolic (by ~5 mmHg) and diastolic (by ~2 mmHg) blood pressure. While systolic blood pressure was reduced regardless of the dose and duration of the study, only doses above 240 mL/day lowered diastolic blood pressure [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27888156/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Pomegranate may lower blood pressure by acting as an ACE inhibitor.</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Hibiscus</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hibiscus/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hibiscus</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hibiscus</span></em> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">sabdariffa</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">) may lower blood pressure in two ways. Firstly, it blocks ACE and relaxes blood vessels in a manner similar to ACE inhibitors. It also acts as a diuretic, flushing out sodium and fluids with the urine. As a result, the volume of blood decreases and blood pressure drops [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17315307/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2 meta-analyses and 4 trials of over 200 people with mild to moderate high blood pressure, hibiscus tea lowered systolic (by 4.71-7.58 mmHg) and diastolic (by 3.53-4.08 mmHg) blood pressure [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25875025/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31943427/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20018807/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23725524/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10404421/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6412462/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A dose adjusted to each person&rsquo;s weight (0.15 g/kg/day) was as effective as the ACE inhibitor </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/lisinopril/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lisinopril</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (10 mg/day) and more effective than the diuretic </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hydrochlorothiazide/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">hydrochlorothiazide</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (25 mg/day) at lowering blood pressure in 2 trials. Similarly, drinking 10 g/day of dried hibiscus calyx (the leaf-like structures at the base of the flower) was as effective as taking captopril (another ACE inhibitor) in a randomized controlled trial [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4621677/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26289514/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15330492/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although drinking hibiscus tea may work well enough, extracts have a higher concentration of important bioactive compounds. In a trial of almost 200 people, taking a daily dose of dried hibiscus extract standardized to contain 250 mg anthocyanins reduced systolic (by 17.14 mmHg) and diastolic (by 11.97 mmHg) blood pressure [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17315307/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2 trials of 100 people with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, hibiscus tea (0.5-4 g/day) lowered systolic but not diastolic blood pressure [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26982618/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18685605/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Hibiscus may lower blood pressure by acting as both an ACE inhibitor and a diuretic.&nbsp;</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Nattokinase</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/nattokinase/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nattokinase</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is an enzyme found in nattō, a soybean product obtained by cooking soybeans and later fermenting them with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bacillus subtilis natto</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372539/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nattokinase may reduce blood pressure by inhibiting ACE [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22453301/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2 trials of people with high blood pressure, supplementation with nattokinase (2,000 fibrinolytic units per day for 8 weeks) lowered systolic (by ~5.5 mmHg) and diastolic (by ~3 mmHg) blood pressure. One of the studies found the reduction in blood pressure was more significant in men [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18971533/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5066864/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Nattokinase may lower blood pressure by acting as an ACE inhibitor.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/5-natural-ace-inhibitors-with-clinical-trials/"><strong><em>Click here</em></strong></a><strong><em> to learn about more natural products that may block ACE and lower blood pressure.</em></strong></p>
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604 | content_learn_more_2316497550682306_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your AGT gene makes you somewhat more likely to have high blood pressure. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of high blood pressure; it’s just one gene related to it. Consuming more garlic and pomegranate and supplementing with hibiscus and nattokinase may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs699
rsStatus = rs699,AGT,chr1,230710048,A,G,,,12,16,HET
