heart & blood vessels

NGF

The Role of Nerve Growth Factors in Blood Pressure (NGF)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on January 19th, 2021

The NGF gene encodes nerve growth factor. Could this gene have a harmful effect on blood vessels & blood pressure? Read on to find out.

Summary

NGF encodes nerve growth factor. Variants of NGF may play a role in blood pressure by causing excessive nerve growth around blood vessels. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by balancing NGF activity and preventing excess nerve growth.

NGF and Blood Pressure

The NGF gene encodes a protein called nerve growth factor. As its name suggests, NGF may promote the growth, maintenance, and survival of neurons and axons. It’s also thought to help repair the myelin sheath, which is the insulating coating around the axons. Mutations in this gene are relatively common in inherited diseases of the nervous system [R, R].

Animal experiments found that as the production of NGF decreases in the brain, the animals’ ability to form new connections and to retain and access memories becomes impaired. They believe NGF might save degenerating nerves and help restore their function; this effect has yet to be studied in humans, however [R].

NGF may also play a role in supporting In a mouse model of injury to the artery, NGF seemed to have regenerated nerves around the blood vessels and subsequently helped form new blood vessels, supporting their development and stabilization [R].

NGF has been implicated in blood pressure for decades, but researchers are still investigating the connection between the two [R, R, R].

In animals, high levels of NGF in the blood vessels leads to increased blood pressure. Some studies suggest that high NGF may actually lead to too much nerve growth in and around the blood vessels; this, in turn, could excessively activate the muscles controlling the size of blood vessels [R].

On the other hand, NGF appears to protect the heart and blood vessels from permanent damage after an injury—so excessively high or excessively low NGF could both cause problems, and it’s important for this gene to be expressed within an optimal range [R].

The NGF gene encodes nerve growth factor. In excess, this protein may promote the growth of too many nerves around blood vessels, leading to increased blood pressure.

Your NGF Results for Blood Pressure

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs11466111

NGF rs11466111 [R]

‘C’ = Associated with normal blood pressure
‘T’ = Strongly associated with high blood pressure
The ‘T’ allele may promote excess growth of nerves around blood vessels, leading to contraction of smooth muscles and increased blood pressure [R].

Recommendations

Stress Management

Psychological stress may cause an imbalance in the production and activity of NGF. In rats, chronic mild stress led to increased breakdown of mature NGF, but faster production of new NGF [R].

NGF is also essential for managing the physiological effects of stress. People with unbalanced NGF activity may experience these effects more acutely than others [R].

Experiencing psychological stress was associated with about two and a half times higher risk of high blood pressure in a meta-analysis of 11 studies involving 5696 people. In people with high response to stressors, psychological stress further increases blood pressure by 21% [R, R].

Stress from job strain has also been associated with higher blood pressure, especially in men [R, R].

Stress-reduction techniques such as stress management training, biofeedback, and muscle relaxation lowered blood pressure in several clinical trials [R, R, R].

Music Therapy

Mice that listened to slow rhythm music for 6 hours per day over a time period of 3 weeks were found to have decreased NGF levels in their brains [R].

Several meta-analyses found that music therapy may lower systolic (by up to 10 mmHg) and diastolic (by up to 6 mmHg) blood pressure in people with hypertension [R, R, R].

Music increases dopamine activity, which lowers blood pressure by inhibiting the fight-or-flight (sympathetic) nervous system [R].

Psychological stress may cause an imbalance in NGF and has been linked with high blood pressure. Music therapy may help normalize NGF levels and reduce blood pressure.

Olive Oil

In mice, olive oil supplementation fine-tuned NGF expression in different parts of the brain and body, increasing it in some parts and decreasing it in others [R].

Several meta-analyses found that including extra virgin olive oil in the diet may lower systolic but not diastolic blood pressure The antioxidant polyphenols in extra virgin olive oil may reduce oxidative damage to the blood vessels and enhance the production of the blood vessel-widening molecule nitric oxide [R, R, R].

In a small study of 23 people with high blood pressure, a diet rich in extra virgin olive oil reduced the need for blood pressure-lowering medication [R].

Olive oil may decrease blood pressure while both increasing and decreasing NGF in different tissues, suggesting that its benefits would not come at the cost of NGF in the brain.

Grape Seed Extract

According to a study of rats, grape seed extract contains polyphenols that may normalize NGF levels that have been thrown out of balance. However, this study only tested the bladders of diabetic rats; it is unclear how grape seed extract affects NGF in other parts of the body [R].

Several meta-analyses found that grape seed extract 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 [R, R].

In a small placebo-controlled trial of 9 prehypertensive men, grape seed extract preventive rises of blood pressure in response to exercise [R].

Grape seed extract may lower blood pressure by improving blood vessel function, as seen in a placebo-controlled trial of 30 people [R].

Grape seed extract lowered blood pressure in clinical settings; it may normalize NGF levels that are out of balance.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

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.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More heart & blood vessels blogs

The Gene That Protects Your Heart (PON1) The Link Between Methylation, Cholesterol, and Heart Disease (PEMT) Are You Genetically Vulnerable to Heart Disease (NOS3)? Caffeine: Your Friend or Foe? (CYP1A2) Is This Cholesterol Gene Linked To Lifespan? (CETP) Does This Cholesterol-Related Gene Affect Lifespan? (APOC1) The Complex Relationship Between CRP and Longevity Does This Gene Affect Salt Sensitivity and Blood Pressure? (SLC4A5) How Does This Fat Transport Gene Affect Metabolic & Cardiovascular Disease? (APOA5) Can This Gene Influence Your Risk of Heart Disease (COMT)?

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Summary NGF and Blood Pressure Your NGF Results for Blood Pressure

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