Addressing Hypertension via Nutrition (Stalking a Silent Killer)

One of the most consumed beverages in the world, tea, also offers benefits to blood pressure. A recent review out of the University of Missouri-Columbia noted consumption of tea, and its abundant polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), may improve endothelial function and hypertension.⁴⁷ In fact, animal research has shown green tea extract has the ability to prevent induced hypertension in rats, which was attributed to prevention of oxidative damage, supporting vascular health.⁴⁸

Polyphenols found in pine bark extract have been investigated for their impact on vascular health. One placebo-controlled, double blind study out of China examined the impact of 100 mg/d of pine bark extract (as Pycnogenol®, from Horphag, supplied by Natural Health Science) on patients with hypertension.⁴⁹ The intervention improved endothelial function, decreasing endothelin-1 concentrations and increasing NO levels in plasma, although there were no significant changes in heart rate. A 12-week pilot study from New Zealand examined the impact of pine bark extract (as Enzogenol®, from ENZO Nutraceuticals, supplied by B&D Nutritional Ingredients) plus vitamin C on blood pressure and other cardiac parameters.⁵⁰ Intervention at a dose of 480 mg/d pine bark extract and 240 mg/d vitamin C was associated with a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure.

The majority of research to date on Ginkgo biloba has focused on its possible benefit to cognitive function; however, studies are investigating its possible effect on blood pressure, though results have been mixed. Japanese researchers reported ginkgo extract could decrease salt-related elevation of blood pressure and support vasodilation in rats;⁵¹ another Japanese rat trial found a standardized ginkgo extract (as EGb 761) could suppress age-related increases in blood pressure.⁵² However, additional work from Japan found ginkgo extract worked to reduce blood pressure in younger animals, but impaired peripheral circulation and increased liver weight in aged hypertensive rats, suggesting a need for further investigation on its effects.⁵³