Nitric Oxide Mediated Vasodilatory Response to Hawthorn Standardized Extract

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Any antihypertensive medication use (ACE inhibitors, ARB, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, alpha agonists or antagonists, nitrates, direct vasodilators such as hydralazine, aldosterone antagonists, direct renin inhibitors, endothelin antagonists)
• •2. Current tobacco use.
• •3. Diagnosed with diabetes, known coronary artery disease, severe aortic stenosis, idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS), or upper extremity vascular obstruction.
• •4. Pregnancy or breast feeding.
• •5. Using estrogen-containing birth control methods.
• •6. Unwillingness to forgo vitamins C and E, fish oil, niacin, arginine, OTC decongestants, and NSAIDs such as advil, motrin, and nuprin during the study period.
• •7. Unwillingness to forgo use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors (sildenafil - 36 hours, vardenafil - 36 hours, tadalafil - 96 hours) prior to study visits.
• •8. Unwillingness to refrain from vigorous exercise on the morning of study visits.
• •9. Women with childbearing potential who do not agree to practice effective birth control (condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, copper IUD, abstinence).