I previously wrote about ways to prevent high blood pressure. Now let’s consider treatment using herbal and nutrient supplements to lower blood pressure.
Before you start taking prescription medicine for high blood pressure
It makes sense to carefully review the many ways to lower blood pressure I discussed previously. After all, you can do, if you reliably and consistently have elevated blood pressure, consider treatment with natural medicine. There are many herbs and nutrient supplements shown to lower blood pressure. Remember that they may not work as rapidly as prescription medicines.
Nutrient supplements and herbal treatments for hypertension
I have learned from the American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine fellowship training that by using only nutrition, nutrient supplements, and stress reduction, you can expect to achieve normalizing your blood pressure 80% of the way. Here are the nutrient supplements that are useful to lower blood pressure:
Fish oil (fish or omega 3 PUFAs) at 3-4 grams daily DHA with EPA daily reduces blood pressure on average by 8 mmHg systolic and 5 mmHg diastolic (8/5 mmHg); it also lowers heart rate 6 beats/minute and lowers endothelial inflammation.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
CoEnzymeQ10 has been shown in a meta-analysis [7] of 12 studies (n=362) to lower blood pressure by 17/10 mmHg at modest doses of 60 mg twice daily and in another study[8] this modest dose reduced blood pressure by 26 mm Hg systolic on average of the 55% who responded to treatment.
Green coffee extract contains chlorogenic acids, shown in a number of studies to significantly lower blood pressure.[9] [10] [11] [12] [13] An average dose of 140mg daily lowered blood pressure 5.6 mmHg systolic and 3.9 mmHg diastolic.
Polyphenols: Resveratrol,[14] quercetin, flavonoids, red wine (6 oz twice weekly), dealcoholized red wine,[15] purple grape juice[16] (independent of alcohol content), red grape polyphenolic extract,[17] dark chocolate,[18] [19] and other plant-derived polyphenols[20] have been shown to safely reduce endothelial inflammation,[21] increase nitric oxide (a vasodilator), and thereby lower both blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. For example, concentrated pomegranate juice (contains polyphenols) 50ml daily lowered systolic blood pressure 5% in a 2-week study[22] largely due to its ACE inhibition (like the prescription ACE-inhibitors such as Lisinopril®) and by 12% in a year-long study[23] in which it also significantly reduced atherosclerosis (IMT reduction by up to 30%).
Soy isoflavones[24] [25] because they contain daidzein and genistein, they are known to lower blood pressure.
Lycopene extract lowered blood pressure by 9 / 7 mmHg in a small study[26] (30 study participants) for 8 weeks; when added to ACE-inhibitor, Calcium channel blocker, or diuretic medication, lycopene lowered blood pressure by 10/5 mmHg.[27]
L-arginine (6 grams daily) significantly increases nitric oxide secretion which is a powerful vasodilator with endothelial anti-inflammatory effects,[28] [29] [30], especially in salt-sensitive persons.[31] A meta-analysis of 11 randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trials (387 study participants) using 4 to 24 grams daily lowered pressure to 5.39 mm Hg systolic and 2.66 mm Hg diastolic on average.[32]
L-carnitine (1 gram twice daily) lowers blood pressure and lowers insulin resistance,[33] [34] and has a maximal effect at 3 grams twice daily for the hypertensive diabetic person.
Taurine has pronounced beneficial heart health effects including its blood pressure lowering effect[35] [36] --best at 3 grams twice daily.
R (alpha) lipoic acid lowers blood pressure and improves endothelial dysfunction through beneficial effects on nitric oxide (the vasodilator) and other mechanisms at the optimal dose of 100-200 mg daily.[37]
Hawthorne berry has ACE-inhibition effects (like the prescription ACE inhibitors such as Lisinopril®) and mildly reduces systemic vascular resistance.[38] [39] [40]
Green tea extract contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which has been shown to be anti-hypertensive.[41]
Other teas: Dandelion leaf tea is a mild diuretic and therefore can lower blood pressure; fresh ginger tea lowers blood pressure.[42] Hibiscus tea helped lower blood pressure according to a few studies.[43] [44]
Ginkgo biloba has ACE inhibition effects and improves endothelial dysfunction[45] and has been found to lower blood pressure and slow heart rate, although not all studies agree.
Garlic and onion extracts have been found to lower blood pressure and slow heart rate[46] although not all studies agree.
B vitamins: take vitamin B complex and at least 200 mg of vitamin B1 (thiamin) daily.[47] Why? Because niacin (vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid) 500 to 1,000 mg is a vasodilator and taken in an extended-release form will lower blood pressure and raise good cholesterol levels (HDL-C).[48] [49] Also, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6) stabilizes nitric oxide[50] (a potent vasodilator) as do the other micronutrients vitamin C, vitamin D3, and vitamin E (gamma & delta tocopherols and tocotrienols). Pyridoxine also has calcium channel-blocking effects[51] (like the prescription Calcium channel blockers Amlodipine® and Nifedipine®).
Vitamin D3: make sure your blood levels are 50 ng/ml or higher (on a blood test), which usually requires supplementation with 2,000-5,000 IU daily if you are low.
Magnesium: low serum magnesium is linked to hypertension;[52] magnesium intake (diet/supplementation) is associated with less hypertension.[53]
Potassium: a high potassium diet of 5,000 mg daily[54] [55] is recommended (unless you have kidney failure) for optimal heart health and blood pressure. Learn how to get this amount in your diet by reading more here: http://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=14011
To feel well in your long-term health,
Michael Cutler, M.D.
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[23] Aviram M, Rosenblat M, Gaitini D, Nitecki S, Hoffman A, Dornfeld L, Volkova N, Presser D, Attias J, Liker H, Hayek T. Pomegranate juice consumption for 3 years by patients with carotid artery stenosis reduces common carotid intima-media thickness, blood pressure, and LDL oxidation. Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;23(3):423-33.
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[54] Personal notes are taken from the American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine fellowship module II training, 2012.
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