Xinruikang on Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness

Hypertension, affecting over 1.4 billion individuals globally, is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Vascular endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness are critical contributors to hypertension-related complications, yet effective adjunct therapies remain underexplored. Xinruikang, a patented kefir peptide product derived from fermented goat milk, has demonstrated antihypertensive and vascular protective properties in preclinical studies, though clinical evidence supporting its efficacy and safety in human populations is lacking.This study aimed to evaluate whether Xinruikang, as an adjunct to standard antihypertensive therapy, could improve blood pressure (BP) control and arterial elasticity in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. A 12-week, single-center, double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted among 122 hypertensive patients (aged 40–75 years) recruited from Shandong Province, China. Participants were randomized to receive either Xinruikang (2g twice daily) or goat milk powder alongside their existing antihypertensive regimens. Primary outcomes included changes in systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV), while secondary outcomes encompassed lipid profiles, liver/kidney function, and adverse events. Assessments were performed at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 using standardized protocols for BP measurement and arterial stiffness evaluation. Both groups exhibited significant reductions in SBP and DBP (P < 0.001), yet Xinruikang demonstrated superior efficacy, achieving a mean SBP reduction of −22.91 mmHg compared to −12.36 mmHg in controls (P < 0.001), and a DBP reduction of −12.91 mmHg versus −9.36 mmHg (P = 0.002). Notably, Xinruikang significantly improved bilateral arterial stiffness, reducing left and right PWV by −140.55 cm/s and −178.33 cm/s, respectively (P < 0.001). Safety profiles were comparable between groups, with no statistically significant differences in adverse events or biochemical markers, The study provides the first clinical evidence supporting Xinruikang’s role as a safe and effective adjunct therapy for hypertension. However, limitations such as the single-center design, short follow-up duration, and lack of mechanistic biomarkers warrant further validation through larger multicenter trials with extended observation periods.