Vitamins and nutrients to support a healthy level of blood pressure

On April 20, 2007, the British Medical Journal published a study conducted by the Harvard Medical School. This study included over 3,000 adult participants between the ages of 30 and 54 years suffering from high blood pressure. The participants in the study were followed for ten years. The study determined that a 25% decrease in salt intake reduces the risk of cardiovascular mortality by 20%. With these impressive statistics, the study concluded that the reduction of sodium intake is an efficient control for blood pressure and may be used as a long-term strategy to reduce cardiovascular mortality.

The endothelium is an inner layer of blood vessels. Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to play a critical role in atherosclerotic plaque buildup and blood clot formation leading to stroke and heart attack.

In 2007, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study comparing magnesium intake and plasma concentration of a variety of indices of endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation. In this cross sectional study, 657 female participants were tested for plasma concentrations of cardiac specific C-reactive protein and some other indices of inflammation. The participants with the highest dietary magnesium intake had 24% lower cardiac C-reactive protein. The conclusion was that magnesium intake is inversely associated with certain indices of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in apparently healthy females. Considering the fact that various data imply that systemic inflammation is directly related to the possible development of cardiovascular conditions, magnesium should be further studied regarding its potential preventive role in the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

An interesting case study was published by the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in 2006. This report concerned a patient with severe congestive heart failure with a 15- 20% decreased in left ventricular ejection fraction. This patient was given a combination of Coenzyme Q-10, 100 mg a day, along with Hawthorn root, 150 mg three times a day, and magnesium, 350 mg a day. After two weeks of starting this complex of nutritional supplements, the patient reported a decrease in shortness of breath and felt a general improvement in his wellbeing. Subsequently, the left ventricular ejection fraction increased up to 35%. Considering that there is over half a million new congestive heart failure cases diagnosed every year in the United States, supplementation with Coenzyme Q10, Hawthorn root and magnesium may be a safe and effective way to relive the symptoms of congestive heart failure.

Recently, an American Journal of Cardiology published a study conducted by the University Hospital in Belgium concerning the effect of folic acid on endothelial function after acute myocardial infarction. In this placebo-controlled, randomized, double blind, cross-over study, 40 patients were observed after an acute myocardial infarction. A high dose of folic acid, 10 mg a day, was given to the experimental group. As compared with the control group, participants who received supplementation with folic acid significantly increased dilatation of the brachial artery. The conclusion was that folic acid may significantly improve endothelial dysfunction in a patient after acute myocardial infarction, even with normal homocystine status.

A study conducted in the Nutritional Science and Research Division at Kings College London, UK, researched the effects of DHA formula (Docosahexaenoic acid) on blood pressure. DHA formula is an essential part of Omega 3 fatty acids which are prevalent in fish oil. It was a placebo-controlled, cross-over, double blind, randomized study which involved 38 healthy individuals between the ages of 40 and 65 years. They were given a fairly low dose, below 1 gram a day, of DHA formula. DHA formula supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant decreased of diastolic blood pressure. The results of this study presents another reason to increase the intake of Omega 3 fatty acid for people who are suffering from elevated blood pressure or who are likely to develop it.

Research conducted in the Evans Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute at Boston University School of Medicine studied the effect of the combination of Alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl l-Carnitine on vascular function and blood pressure in patients with a known coronary artery disease. The study was a double blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled study involving 36 patients with known coronary artery disease. The participants were assigned to receive daily supplementation with 500 mg of Acetyl l-Carnitine and 200 mg of alpha Lipoic acid versus a placebo. The duration of the study was eight weeks. Supplementation with Acetyl l-Carnitine and alpha Lipoic acid was found to increase the diameter of the brachial artery by 2.3%. This result was also consistent with the observed decrease in arterial tone. In addition, the combination of Acetyl l-Carnitine and alpha Lipoic acid had a systolic blood pressure reducing effect in the group taking the supplements. The effect of blood pressure reduction was even more significant in the group who already had baseline elevated blood pressure.

A study conducted by the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Pisa in Italy and published in the American Journal of Hypertension in 2007, revealed the potentially positive effect of Vitamin C and E on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in patients suffering from elevated blood pressure. In this placebo-controlled, cross-over, double blind, randomized study involving 30 male patients ranging from 42 to 60 years old with high blood pressure, the participants received 1 gram of Vitamin C along with 400 IU of vitamin E a day or a placebo for a period of eight weeks. The endothelium dependent response was evaluated by measuring the flow mediated dilatation of the brachial artery. Flow mediated dilatation significantly improved in the group receiving vitamin C and E supplementation. The arterial stiffness was evaluated by measuring the central pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. Patients who received supplementation with vitamin E and vitamin C also showed a decrease in arterial stiffness.

The Archives of Internal Medicine has published a study conducted by the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. This study looked at the relationship between the amount of fiber in an individual’s diet and the level of C-reactive protein. Both, naturally occurring fiber present in the diet and fiber supplementation was studied. The result of the study demonstrated that a fiber intake of 30 gram a day, either from natural sources or a supplement, can decrease the level of C-reactive protein. C-reactive protein is used as an index of inflammation. There is multiple data linking elevated C-reactive protein levels and the risk of a cardiovascular incident.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was conducted in Barcelona Spain to evaluate the effect of virgin olive oil on C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 in patients suffering from coronary artery disease. Three weeks of taking 50 ml a day of virgin oil decreased the level of these inflammatory indexes.

Dr. Arora from the Department of Surgery of George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, studied the influence of thiamine (vitamin B1) on the development and progression of atherosclerosis. This study involved 10 patients with impaired glucose tolerance (a common pre-diabetic condition), 10 patients with Type II diabetes mellitus and 10 healthy patients. They were given thiamine doses of 100 mg intravenously. The vasodilatation, in other words, the ability of a blood vessel to expand, was assessed by measuring the brachial artery activity. A Duplex ultrasound test was used. The results of the study suggested that the administration of vitamin B1 (thiamine) may aid in the improvement of endothelial function and, therefore slow down the progression of atherosclerosis. The result of the study was particularly relevant for patients suffering from diabetes or having a pre-diabetic condition.

The Pharmaceutical Institute of the Albany College of Pharmacy in the State of New York published a study on the synergistic effect of garlic and vitamin C supplementation in lowering elevated blood pressure. In this pilot study which involved six participants with borderline elevated blood pressure of 140/90, supplementation with vitamin C and garlic effectively reduced blood pressure back to normal reference ranges. Interestingly enough, garlic alone was effective in lowering systolic, but not diastolic blood pressure. At the same time, the combination of vitamin C supplementation and garlic was effective in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Apparently, the effect was mediated through the nitric oxide production mechanism.

A prospective study involving over 34,000 post menopausal females, free of cardiovascular disease, revealed the preventive cardiovascular and coronary heart effects of flavanones and other bioflavonoids. The results were quite impressive, with up to 22% reduction of risk of coronary artery disease mortality.