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. 2018 Mar 25;10(3):6563–6570. doi: 10.19082/6563

Effect of diet on blood viscosity in healthy humans: a systematic review

Hamideh Naghedi-Baghdar 1, Seyed-Mohammad Nazari 2, Ali Taghipour 3, Mohsen Nematy 4, Sadegh Shokri 5, Mohammad-Reza Mehri 1, Tahereh Molkara 1, Roghayeh Javan 6,✉
PMCID: PMC5942579  PMID: 29765583

Abstract

Background

Increased whole blood viscosity is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality of several life-threatening diseases, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. The effect of diet on human health has been indicated in many studies, and a health dietary pattern can reduce the incidence of several chronic diseases.

Objective

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effect of diet on blood viscosity and related parameters such as haematocrit (HCT).

Methods

This systematic review was carried out in 2017. MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to 2 May 2017. We selected and included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in the study. The inclusion criteria were articles that describe the effect of any types of local and traditional diet on blood viscosity in apparently healthy individuals.

Results

Three randomized controlled trials were included in this systematic review. Different diets were used in the included trials. In one study, ingested dried–bonito broth (DBB) for four weeks, significantly reduced the blood passage time in the intervention group from 55.4±3.4 to 47.6±2.0 sec (mean ± SEM, p<0.05) compared with no significant change in the placebo group. Another study has shown significantly increased blood fluidity score in a vegetarian group in contrast to the control group after six weeks. In the last study, plasma viscosity was significantly decreased in a group which used onion–olive-oil capsules compared to the placebo group, with a highly significant difference between the two groups (p=0.0015).

Conclusions

Our components of food diets may decrease blood viscosity in health status. Better and expanded methodology may improve our results.

Keywords: Blood Viscosity, Blood Fluidity, Diet, Nutrition

1. Introduction

Blood viscosity (BV) is an important blood property, and plays a key role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. Blood viscosity is mainly determined by haematocrit, plasma viscosity, the deformability and aggregation of red blood cells (RBCs), and shear rate (1, 2). Blood viscosity rising, may increase morbidity/mortality of cardiovascular patients (3, 4). Moreover, abnormal blood viscosity is closely related to the pathogenesis, development, and prognosis of several life-threatening diseases including chronic cerebral infarction, transient ischemic attack, diabetes mellitus, haemorrhagic shock, renal disease, and risk factors for stroke (5, 6). Two therapeutic procedures are available for decreasing blood viscosity: direct and indirect. Plasma exchange, phlebotomy, and rheopheresis are applied directly, whereas in indirect method, we regulate erythrocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells etc., that may have an effect on blood viscosity, (1, 2). Diet as a complex variable, is often used with multiple approaches to examine its association with the risk of disease (7). The effect of diet on human health has been indicated in many clinical and population–based studies, which provide evidence that a health dietary pattern can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disorders, cancers, diabetes, and several other chronic diseases (8, 9). The relationship between some nutritional–related diseases such as hypertriglyceridemia, hypoalbuminemic disorders, and diabetes mellitus, and blood and plasma viscosity has been demonstrated in several studies (6, 10). Based on recent findings, plant–based foods and avoiding animal–based foods can decrease coronary artery diseases (11). A systematic review study on randomized controlled trials was carried out to assess the association between diet and blood viscosity.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Research design and search strategy

The present study was carried out in 2017, to design a systematic search to evaluate the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that examined the effect of diet on blood viscosity in apparently healthy individuals. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to 2 May 2017, which is limited by English language and human studies. The keywords that were used alone or in combination included Blood viscosity or Haemorheology or Blood rheology or Blood fluidity, or Polycythaemia or Blood circulation or Microcirculation or Blood flow or Blood indices or Haematological parameters, Diet or Food or Foodstuff or Functional food or Recipe or Nutrition or Meal or Dish or Chow or Cuisine or Traditional or Mediterranean diet or Complementary medicine or Alternative medicine).

2.2. Inclusion and exclusion criteria

The RCTs that evaluated diet affecting blood viscosity in apparently healthy individuals were considered. Studies on individuals with organ disease, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, diabetes, cardiocerebrovascular disease, smoking, or drug treatment and other similar cases were excluded. The experimental interventions included any types of local or traditional diet without timing usage, dosage, or preparation method restriction. We rejected the studies without random allocation or clear randomization. Whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, blood fluidity (blood passage time), blood fluidity score (BFS), haematocrit and side-effects of the diet were our primary outcomes. The secondary outcomes were erythrocyte aggregation, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, platelet aggregation, and other laboratory tests. Two authors independently did the article review for eligibility and entry criteria. For identical opinion; differences were discussed and finally, extracted data included time and place, author, methodology, method of use/type/amount/of the diet, details of comparative nutrition regimen, duration of treatment, follow-up timing, case characteristics, number of randomized cases, number lost to follow-up, primary and secondary outcomes and adverse events.

2.3. Quality assessment

Eligible RCTs were qualified by Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessment of risk bias (12). One researcher assessed, another cross-checked it.

3. Results

A total of 1,894 articles were gathered by our keywords. By reference searching, six articles were obtained. A flowchart showing the process of study selection is presented in Figure 1. After the elimination of duplicate articles, 1,208 articles remained. By title reading, 1,091 titles were determined non-relevant. After abstracts review of 117 articles, 107 articles were disregarded; 101 of which were non-clinical, review articles or had no defined criteria and six articles were in non-English and lacked an abstract or principle of articles. Subsequently, 10 articles reporting on clinical trials remained; we rejected seven of the 10 articles for lack of defined criteria. Finally, we confirmed three clinical trials as eligible articles for study.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Study flow chart.

3.1. Study design

Three RCTs involving 68 participants were considered eligible. These studies reported random allocation of participants that had diet with its effect on blood viscosity. One of them was a pilot study. Two of the study sites were in Germany and Japan, and the third study site was not known. These articles were not written with any financial support from pharmaceutical companies or factories.

3.2. Participants

Sixty-eight men and women who participated in these studies were from three countries. One study was performed on 24 healthy adult subjects aged 42.0 ± 2.0; the second study was performed on 30 apparently healthy volunteers, 15 men and 15 women; and the third study was performed on 14 women (aged 18–35 years). All participants were healthy adult subjects.

3.3. Interventions

Three diets were tested in the RCTs. One study evaluated the effects of dried–bonito broth (DBB) compared with placebo for four weeks. Another study assessed the effect of an onion–olive-oil maceration product compared with placebo with a subsequent crossover after a washout phase of 14 days. The last study assessed a normaldiet and limited the total calorie intake to 800–900 kcal/day compared with a diet with the same calorie intake, and also stopped the consumption of meat, fish, or products of meat or fish for six weeks.

3.4. Risk of bias within studies

By using Cochrane Collaboration’s tool, we assessed the risk of bias in studies, Table 1 shows the summarized results. Only randomized trials were accepted for reviewing. Allocation concealment, and blinding of patient and treating physician, were performed in two of the three trials. All three studies were free of selective reporting.

Table 1.

Risk of bias

ref. no. Random Sequence Generation Allocation Concealment Blinding (Study patient) Blinding (treating physician) Blinding of clinical outcome Incomplete outcome data addressed Free of selective reporting Free of other bias
13 + + + + − − + +
14 + + − − − − + −
15 + + + + − − + +
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3.5. Outcomes

In the study of Yoshizu Nozawa, blood fluidity was measured. Blood passage time significantly decreased by DBB ingestion from 55.4±3.4 to 47.6±2.0 sec (mean ± SEM, p<0.05). In the placebo group, this time had no significant difference (52.4±3.4 to 51.4±2.6 sec, mean ± SEM). This finding, indicated that DBB decreased blood fluidity. And also, after DBB ingestion; Level of d–ROMs [a biomarker of oxidative stress] significantly fell from 337.2±18.5 to 316.5±12.9 Carrotelli units (Carr. U.) (mean ± SEM, p<0.05). This suggests that DBB can reduce oxidative stress (13). In the E. Ernst study, the blood fluidity score is evaluated. In their two groups, BFS at baseline was almost equal. Three weeks after diet intervention, no significant longitudinal change was observed within either group (−2.8±1.7 in vegetarians and −1.6±2.1 in controls); thus, at the three–week measuring point, no significant intergroup difference was noted. In the second half of diet intervention, BFS (three–versus six–week values) significantly increased in vegetarians (−0.9±1.9) and blood fluidity. In the control group (−3.2±1), there was a significant decreased fluidity (compared to baseline, there were no significant longitudinal changes in either group). Thus, at the end of the diet intervention, BFS was significantly different between the two groups (14). In the study of Ulrich Kalus, plasma viscosity is measured. Onion capsules significantly decrease 0.03 mPa.s, in mean plasma viscosity without difference to the placebo group. In the intervention phase (before: 1.28±0.06, after 5h: 1.25±0.05) compared with the placebo phase (before: 1.27±0.07, after 5h: 1.27±0.08). The difference of plasma viscosity between the two treatment groups was highly significant (p=0.0015). Haematocrit was measured in this study. There are no significant differences in haematocrit (intervention phase, before: 41.3±4.3, after 5h: 40.5±4.0 and placebo phase, before: 40.7±4.6, after 5h: 40.1±4.3), p=0.610. Also, erythrocyte aggregation in the intervention phase (before: 12.9±3.6, after 5h: 11.9±3.4) had no significant differences compared with the placebo phase (before: 12.2±4.3, after 5h: 12.1±4.7), p=0.058. A slight but significant decrease in systolic blood pressure is found in the intervention phase (before: 120.7±10.5, after 5h: 117.7±10.4) compared with the placebo phase (before: 120.4±12.2, after 5h: 118.7±11.9), p=0.0498. There are no significant changes in diastolic blood pressure (15). No adverse events were reported during the three studies. The features of these three studies are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2.

Characteristics of the included studies

Ref. no. Study design Samples Interventions Primary outcome Secondary outcome
15 Randomized, placebo-controlled, double- blind with cross-over design Thirty apparently healthy volunteers, 15 men and 15 women, with normal blood fluidity, without organ disease, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia or drug treatment other than oral contraceptives Group 1: Four capsules (each 270 mg) of onion-olive-oil maceration product.
Group 2: Identically prepared placebo capsules, with 0.25 l of unsweetened fruit tea, fluid intake was restricted to a total amount of 0.5 l.		 Plasma viscosity, Hematocrit, side effects:
There was a significant mean decrease in plasma viscosity of 0.03 mPa s, in group 1, whereas there was no change in group 2. There were no significant differences in hematocrit before and after treatment in both groups. No adverse events were reported during the study.		 Erythrocyte aggregation, blood pressure, heart rate:
There were no significant differences in erythrocyte aggregation before and after treatment in both groups. There was a slight but significant decrease in systolic blood in group 1. There were no significant changes in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate before and after treatment in both groups.
13 Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Twelve healthy adult subjects, 7 men and 5 women Group 1: Ingested commercial, dried-bonito broth.
Group 2: The placebo consisted of dried-bonito flavor, caramel, and sodium chloride, and was prepared so that the two test diets were indistinguishable. Both groups ingested 125 ml of the diet every morning in addition to their regular diet for four weeks.		 Blood fluidity:
The mean of blood passage time before and after treatment in the DBB group significantly decreased, while no significant change was observed in the placebo group.		 The level of d-ROMs score, shoulder stiffness symptoms, visual fatigue symptoms:
There was a significant improvement of d-ROMs score in the intervention group after 4 weeks. There were no significant changes of d-ROMs score in the placebo group after 4 weeks. There was a significant decrease in shoulder stiffness symptoms at week 3 compared to week 1 in the DBB group. There was a significant decrease in visual fatigue symptoms at week 4 of DBB ingestion compared to week 1.
14 Randomized clinical trial, pilot Fourteen healthy women who all had routine physical check-ups, not on chronic medication, not overweight, and on normal omnivorous diets Group 1: The usual diet and limited total calorie intake to 800–900 kcal/day for 6 weeks.
Group 2: The same as group 1 calorie intake and also consumed no meat, fish, or products of meat or fish for 6 weeks.		 Blood fluidity score, side effects: During the first 3 weeks of diets, there was no significant longitudinal change within either group. In the second half of the experiment, the BFS (3 vs. 6-week values) significantly increased in group 2, indicating an increment in blood fluidity. By contrast, in group 1, there was a significant decrease during the same time span (compared to baseline, there were no significant longitudinal changes in either group). No side effects were reported during the study.
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3.6. Dried–bonito broth compared with placebo

Yoshizu Nozawa et al. conducted a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study in 24 healthy adult subjects with mean age 42.0±2.0 (mean ± SEM) years. Each group had 7 males and 5 females. They were screened, and then intervention was applied. They were randomly divided into two groups and had no significant differences in blood fluidity (measured by MC–FAN). Participants received dried-bonito broth (DBB) or placebo over 4 weeks. Blood fluidity and oxidative stress were measured before and after intervention. Participants completed a questionnaire during the study period. Commercial dried-bonito broth, named ‘Hondzukuri ichiban-dashi’ (Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Tokyo Japan), produced via a hot-water extraction process from DBB, was used as an active dietary supplement. The placebo consisted of dried-bonito flavour, caramel, and sodium chloride, and was prepared so that the two test diets were indistinguishable. The subjects ingested 125 ml of the diet every morning in addition to their regular diet, for four weeks. With a microchannel array flow analyser and passage time of 100μ1 of heparinized whole blood through the microchannel array; blood fluidity was measured. Oxidative stress was evaluated as a level of the derivative of reactive oxygen metabolites (d–ROMs) by a free radical analysis system (FRAS) (13).

3.7. Vegetarian diet compared with meat eating diet

E. Ernst et al. reported a randomized clinical trial pilot study in order to test the hypothesis that a vegetarian diet can alter the fluidity of blood. A total of 14 healthy females, who had normal omnivorous diets and without chronic medication/overweightness were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A followed their usual diet but limited the total calorie intake to 800–900 kcal per day. Group B followed the same calorie intake and a diet without meator fish products. These diets were administered in 6 weeks. Participants received detailed diet instructions before the study. By a structured interview; their compliance was considered during visits in the 3rd and 6th week (14).

3.8. Onion–olive-oil capsules compared with placebo

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial by Ulrich Kalus et al. in three centres, for verifying the primary investigation results by evaluating the effect of an onion–olive-oil maceration remedy on arterial blood pressure and blood fluidity, was performed on 30 healthy subjects (15 men and 15 women aged 18 years and older). Participants were randomly allocated to the intervention or placebo group (15 subjects in each group), and then crossover after 14 days as washout phase (15). Fasting subjects arrived at 7 a.m. at the study rooms. Measurements started after a one-hour resting period. Before and five hours after the intake of four capsules, each containing 270 mg of an onion–olive-oil maceration product manufactured by Phyt-Immun, Homburg/Saar Germany (corresponding to a mean daily dose of 2.5g fresh onions), or identically prepared placebo capsules which were matched for size and appearance, with 0.25l of unsweetened fruit tea, blood pressure and heart rate were measured, and blood samples for the determination of haematocrit, plasma viscosity, and erythrocyte aggregation were drawn. Subjects were prohibited from eating, or leaving the study rooms during the 5h investigation. Maximum allowed fluid intake was 0.5 litres (15).

4. Discussion

Impairment of blood rheology has been shown to be associated with an increase in lifestyle-related diseases, such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Chronic diseases related to diet are the major causes of morbidity and mortality (16, 17). Nutritional science can help to advance the food system, minimize risks, maximize benefits, and deliver a safe, nutritious, and abundant food supply to safeguard human health (18). Several explorative studies have focused on the role of diet in various diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, nephropathy, and obesity. This review was conducted to evaluate the effect of diet on blood viscosity in healthy subjects. In this systematic review, three related trials were obtained. In these studies, the sample sizes were small and one study is an acute intervention within 5 hours. The study of Yoshizu Nozawa et al., showed the relation between diet and rheological characteristics of erythrocytes. The compounds of DBB, including abundant histidine and anserine with antioxidative actions, have a possible observed effect of DBB on circulation of peripheral blood. Peripheral blood circulation facilitates the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between tissue and blood. Oxidative damage to the erythrocyte membrane induces impairment in the flexibility of normal erythrocyte membrane deformability. The antioxidative activity of DBB may improve blood fluidity, leading to a more effective functioning of capillary blood vessels (13). Whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity are the main determinants of blood flow rheology and may have roles in atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and ischemia (19). Blood viscosity (that increases with increasing HCT) is considered as an important determinant for oxygen transport and delivery. Increased number of erythrocytes can enhance platelet adhesion and endothelial deposition and could increase risk of thrombotic complications. On the other hand, high HCT accelerates atherogenesis by increasing serum lipids and deposition of large plasma proteins and platelets on the endothelium (3). There is increasing evidence that levels of plasma and whole blood viscosity are associated with both coronary heart disease and stroke risk, and total mortality (19). In order to maintain adequate blood flow and oxygen supply to each organ, the rheological characteristics of blood are important (20). In a trial study, the effect of a vegetarian diet on the fluidity of blood was confirmed by E. Ernst and A. Franz (1995). The mechanism of the action of a vegetarian diet on blood fluidity is the likely effect of antioxidants and low levels of saturated fats (14). Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between the generation of free radicals and reactive metabolites that are often named as oxidants or reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidants as a defense system for destruction of these metabolites (21, 22). Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic strategies contributed in antioxidant defense. Non-enzymatic antioxidant defense such as vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, β-carotene, uric acid, and glutathione (GSH); and the major enzymatic antioxidants are superoxide dismutases (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (23). Oxidative stress leads to damage of important biomolecules such as DNA, lipids, and proteins. While scavenging of free radicals, erythrocytes become damaged by oxidation, which expends endogenous-reducing substances and reduces the level of erythrocyte antioxidant glutathione and superoxide dismutase. The depletion of the antioxidant is accompanied by changes in hemorheological parameters (24). There is a positive correlation between total cholesterol and TG concentrations; and plasma or blood viscosity. High levels of TG and LDL-C impair permeability of erythrocytes, and induce erythrocyte aggregation (25). On the other hand, high Hct accelerates atherogenesis, by increased serum lipids and deposition of large plasma proteins and platelets on the endothelium (3). Following the consumption of green vegetables, the decrease in SFAs and increase in PUFAs found in erythrocyte membrane phospholipids, may be associated with rheological and functional changes in red blood cells in hypercholesterolemic patients (26). Lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated lipids is one of the oxidative stress markers. Malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenol (4-HNE), and F2-isoprostanes; (as end products of lipid peroxidation), are detectable in blood. They have been used as a measure of oxidative stress. Unsaturated aldehydes produced from these reactions can modify cellular proteins and other components (21). The increased level of MDA indicated the degree of oxidative damage in the erythrocytes. MDA leads to crosslinking of protein, and changes the membrane structure and transmembrane transport, and consequently, can have a negative effect on membrane viscoelasticity, surface area to cell volume ratio, and inner viscosity (27). Peripheral blood circulation facilitates the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between tissue and blood. Oxidative damage to the erythrocyte membrane induces impairment in the flexibility for normal erythrocyte membrane deformability (13). The study by Ulrich Kalus et al., investigated the effect of an onion–olive-oil maceration in healthy humans in order to evaluate the positive effects of this product on blood rheology. Results of the study showed the obvious influences of the maceration product on blood rheology and a significant reduction of plasma viscosity. The authors suggested that these effects are due to slight vasodilatation of onion-oil that leads to a volume shift from extra- to intravascular and makes for dilution of the blood (15). Inhibition of platelet aggregation in vitro by an aqueous extract of Allium cepa (onion) has been proven. Its mechanism of action is via inhibition of diphosphate, epinephrine, arachidonic acid, adenosine, and collagen–induced platelet aggregation. Other substances of onion including sulphur compounds, inhibited the formation of thromboxanes and the action of platelet activating factor (PAF) (28). The therapeutic properties and low toxicity of active ingredients of Allium have been confirmed. Onion has a combination of fructans, dietary flavonoids, and organosulphur compounds with functional benefits against diseases. Some of these benefits are reduction of blood fibrinogen concentration, enhancing of the blood’s fibrinolytic activity, antioxidative activity, lipid peroxidation inhibition, and reduction of serum cholesterol, respiratory and skin infections, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and other diseases (29). Olive-oil is a major source of oleic acid as a monounsaturated fat, and also has higher amounts of vitamin E as an antioxidant compared with animal fats (30). Saturated fat and cholesterol–rich diet impact haemodynamic parameters including plasma and blood viscosity, plasma triglycerides, and RBC deformability, which are associated with increasing the risk of circulatory disorders (31). The main olive-oil antioxidants are carotenoids and phenolic compounds. The fatty acid composition of olive-oil has been introduced as a healthy food (32).

5. Conclusions

This study discovers the positive effect of diet on reduction of blood viscosity in healthy ones. This study will help the researcher to uncover the critical area of prevention and treatment of diseases associated with blood viscosity, but requires more research in this regard in the future, especially double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trials indicating the short-term and long-term effects of different diets. Due to data heterogeneity and small number of studies, meta–analysis was impossible.

Acknowledgments

The authors declare their gratitude to the central library of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences for providing access to the databases.

Footnotes

iThenticate screening: November 09, 2017, English editing: January 30, 2018, Quality control: February 15, 2018

This article has been reviewed/commented by three experts

Conflict of Interest:

There is no conflict of interest to be declared.

Authors’ contributions:

All authors contributed to this project and article equally. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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