Although prescribed medication, regular exercise and eliminating excess alcohol, sugar, coffee and trans-fatty acids from your diet are important in helping to reduce high blood pressure, nutritional supplements also play a role. Scientific evidence for their efficacy is mixed, yet there is some indication supplements such as potassium, CoQ10 and omega-3 fatty acids do help reduce blood pressure. Consult your doctor before taking any of these supplements, especially if you take high blood pressure medication.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is produced naturally in the body, although CoQ10 levels decrease with age, some prescription drugs and certain chronic diseases such as heart conditions. Although CoQ10 supplements are controversial as a treatment, a review of 12 clinical studies reported by the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests CoQ10 can lower diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg and systolic blood pressure by up to 17 mm Hg. This reduction in blood pressure occurred in subjects one to three months after beginning to take the supplements.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish oils are known to reduce cholesterol levels, but they also may aid in reducing high blood pressure. Multiple studies do report small reductions in blood pressure, according to MayoClinic.com, but the doses are always extremely high. It is not known if lower doses also reduce blood pressure. Since high doses of omega-3s increase your risk of bleeding, consult your doctor before taking these supplements.
Magnesium
The American Heart Association reports a study in 1998 by Yuhei Kawano, M.D., and colleagues at the National Cardiovascular Center in Osaka, Japan, that showed magnesium supplements in the 60 subjects studied significantly lowered blood pressure, possibly by relaxing the blood vessels, although the AHA does not recommend their use. Potassium-depleting diuretics may lower levels of magnesium, but check with your doctor if you are taking diuretics before using magnesium supplements.
Potassium
Some evidence exists that potassium supplements might cause blood pressure to drop slightly, but not all research studies agree, for they may only help reduce blood pressure if diet does not supply enough of this mineral.
Keeping the proper and quite delicate balance of potassium in the body depends on the magnesium and sodium in the blood. Too much salt in the diet, excessive sweating, diarrhea and even some heart medications can lower potassium levels. The elderly, however, tend to have heightened levels of potassium because their kidneys become less efficient at eliminating it. Do not take potassium supplements without consulting your doctor.
L-arginine
It is possible that supplements of L-arginine may help reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels. However, check with your doctor to see if this supplement is good for you.
Garlic
There is some evidence that garlic supplements can lower blood cholesterol levels with a slight lessening of blood pressure. However, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, after a funded study of the effectiveness of garlic tablets, found no effect.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Coenzyme Q10
- MayoClinic.com: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-Linolenic Acid
- Science Daily: Magnesium Supplements May Help Lower High Blood Pressure
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypertension
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Garlic
