The 15 subjects (5 men, 58.2+15.4 year old, BMI=28.1 + 5.0, and 10 women, 53.3+11.2 year old, BMI =23.6 + 1.7) were selected as eligible for the study by the principle investigator, who had examined the subjects within 1 month before the study. They had high systolic blood pressure (SBP) (135.8+13.9 mmHg), and were not being treated for hypertension. The subjects were fully informed of the purpose, methods, expected drawbacks and other requirements of the study, and each gave written informed consent.