616 | id == 616
616 | category_id == 96
616 | category_order == 29
616 | category_name == Blood Pressure
616 | category_color == #C47AC0
616 | slug == PRKAG2-blood-pressure
616 | title == Does AMPK Signalling Affect High Blood Pressure? (PRKAG2)
616 | meta_description == PRKAG2 encodes part of AMPK, an important enzyme for energy metabolism. What is its role in regulating blood pressure?
616 | summary == <p><strong><em>PRKAG2 </em>encodes part of AMPK, an important enzyme for energy metabolism. What is its role in regulating blood pressure? Find out here.</strong></p>
616 | overall_score_text == Your Blood Pressure Score (based on PRKAG2)
616 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/PRKAG2-Blood-Pressure.jpg
616 | author_id == 1
616 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
616 | author_title == BSc, BEd
616 | author_order == 36
616 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
616 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
616 | reviewer == None
616 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
616 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
616 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
616 | publish_date == 2021
616 | publish_date == 1
616 | publish_date == 22
616 | avg_rating == 5.0
616 | tags_id == 126
616 | tags_name == AMPK
616 | tags_id == 172
616 | tags_name == Blood Pressure
616 | tags_id == 468
616 | tags_name == Energy Expenditure
616 | tags_id == 901
616 | tags_name == Energy Levels
616 | tags_id == 335
616 | tags_name == Hypertension
616 | tags_id == 140
616 | tags_name == Metabolism
616 | tags_id == 1166
616 | tags_name == PRKAG2 Gene
616 | permissions_favorite == False
616 | permissions_rate == False
616 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit gamma 2, a part of the AMPK enzyme. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in blood pressure by disrupting AMPK. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by promoting AMPK activation.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>PRKAG2</em></strong><strong> and Blood Pressure</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/prkag2/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene encodes protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit gamma 2, also abbreviated PRKAG2. This protein is part of a larger enzyme called AMP-activated protein kinase, or </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-ampk-activators/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">AMPK</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is mainly known as an energy sensor and a regulator of metabolism [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/51422"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">AMPK in the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/hypothalamus-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">hypothalamus</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> senses how much energy we have in the body (in the form of ATP). It increases energy expenditure and can also increase appetite (when it is activated in the hypothalamus) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4980534/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When cellular energy is low, AMPK is activated and targets a range of processes. Overall, AMPK activation increases energy production and decreases energy usage [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4287273/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mutations in this gene cause a condition called PRKAG2 syndrome, an inherited disease that causes an enlarged heart and irregularities in heart function. People with PRKAG2 syndrome may also suffer from high blood pressure that starts in adolescence, suggesting that the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene affects the circulatory system beyond the heart [</span><a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCEP.115.003121"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://bmcmedgenet.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12881-017-0512-6"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4704128/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In fact, at least one variant in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has been associated with high blood pressure specifically. According to one study, the &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele of rs10224002 was associated with both high blood pressure and increased expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370207/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30689184/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">AMPK activation has generally been found to decrease blood pressure. Thus, the increased expression of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> does not appear to increase AMPK in turn, despite encoding a part of this enzyme [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29494287/"><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;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene encodes part of AMPK, an important enzyme for energy metabolism. Mutations that increase </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene expression do not necessarily increase AMPK; one such variant is associated with high blood pressure.</span></span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>PRKAG2</em></strong><strong> Results for Blood Pressure</strong></h2> <p>*2798638148588741*</p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/prkag2/"><strong>PRKAG2</strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs10224002/"><strong>rs10224002</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370207/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with relatively lower blood pressure</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with relatively higher blood pressure</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele may increase </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">PRKAG2</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> expression, leading to disrupted AMPK activity and abnormal energy metabolism [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30689184/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/51422"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4980534/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p>*8161714276950107*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Reducing Blood Pressure</strong></h2> <p>*4703012131087027*</p> <h3><strong>Exercise</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> uses energy (in the form of ATP), and the resulting lack of energy stimulates AMPK [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4980534/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">AMPK is stimulated by muscle contraction. High-intensity exercise significantly increases the activity of AMPK in healthy humans [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4980534/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many beneficial effects of exercise are carried out through AMPK, such as the</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/insulin-101/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> insulin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-sensitizing effect [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4973318/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies show that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> training may lower blood pressure, both in the first few hours after exercise and in the long term. Exercise guidelines often recommend aerobic exercise most days of the week (at least 150 min/week of moderate activity or 75 min/week of vigorous activity) supplemented with dynamic resistance exercise twice weekly [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27512052/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meta-analyses estimated blood pressure reductions of 12.26 mmHg (systolic) and 6.12 mmHg (diastolic) from aerobic exercise. The combination of moderate- with high-intensity aerobic exercise (interval training) further enhanced the blood pressure-lowering effects of exercise training [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5369884/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31169988/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32401846/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As for resistance training, a single bout lowered blood pressure by up to 8.2 mmHg (systolic) and 4.1 mmHg (diastolic) within the first hours after exercise, while continuous resistance training lowered it by 4-5 mmHg (systolic) and 1.7-5 (diastolic). However, resistance training should be used with caution because it increases blood pressure during exercise [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27512052/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28769100/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26467494/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30086274/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise modalities such as aquatic exercise, stretching, brisk walking, and tai chi have all been proven effective at lowering blood pressure [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28914562/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7460052/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17275896/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32338292/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In all cases, exercise was more effective in hypertensive people than in those with normal blood pressure values.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Many of the benefits of exercise, including lowering blood pressure, are carried out through increased activation of AMPK.</span></p> <h3><strong>Grape Seed Extract</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/everything-need-know-grapeseed-extract-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grape seed extract</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is rich in anthocyanins, plant compounds that have been found to activate AMPK in cell studies [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21042741/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several meta-analyses found that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/everything-need-know-grapeseed-extract-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">grape seed extract</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> lowers systolic (by up to 6.07 mmHg) and diastolic (by up to 2.8 mmHg) blood pressure. The extract was most effective in people younger than 50 years old, obese, or with metabolic syndrome [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5370781/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21802563/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a small placebo-controlled trial of 9 prehypertensive men, grape seed extract preventive rises of blood pressure in response to exercise [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29683391/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grape seed extract may lower blood pressure by improving blood vessel function, as seen in a placebo-controlled trial of 30 people [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6950399/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Grape seed extract is rich in anthocyanins, which may decrease blood pressure by activating AMPK.</span></p> <h3><strong>Quercetin-Rich Foods</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/quercetin-23-scientifically-proven-benefits-quercetin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Quercetin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a common polyphenol found in many fruits, vegetables, and grains. It has been found to increase AMPK activity in muscle, liver, and fat tissues [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4855276/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4864506/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24491314/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two meta-analyses concluded that supplementation with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/quercetin-23-scientifically-proven-benefits-quercetin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">quercetin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (at least 500 mg/day) reduces systolic (by ~3 mmHg) and diastolic (by ~2.75 mmHg) blood pressure in people with hypertension [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5015358/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31940027/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Quercetin also lowered diastolic (by 1.69 mmHg) but not systolic blood pressure in a meta-analysis of 8 clinical trials of people with metabolic syndrome and related disorders [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31092175/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The foods richest in quercetin include onions, grapes, berries, cherries, and citrus fruits. However, it is unlikely that a person can eat enough quercetin-rich foods to consume the amount that reduced blood pressure in human trials (500 mg per day); some people choose to supplement [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5214562/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Quercetin, a common polyphenol, increases AMPK activity and may reduce blood pressure at high daily doses.</span></p>
616 | content_snp_table_2798638148588741_key == 2798638148588741
616 | content_snp_table_2798638148588741_blur == True
616 | content_snp_table_2798638148588741_hidden == False
616 | content_learn_more_8161714276950107_key == 8161714276950107
616 | content_learn_more_8161714276950107_blur == True
616 | content_learn_more_8161714276950107_hidden == False
616 | content_learn_more_8161714276950107_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your PRKAG2 gene is somewhat associated with disrupted AMPK activity. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of high blood pressure; it’s just one gene related to it. Exercise, grape seed extract, and quercetin may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
616 | content_recommendation_4703012131087027_key == 4703012131087027
616 | content_recommendation_4703012131087027_blur == True
616 | content_recommendation_4703012131087027_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs10224002
rsStatus = rs10224002,PRKAG2,chr7,151717955,A,G,,,42,0,Normal
