High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a potentially life-threatening condition. If left untreated, hypertension can cause long-term damage to your blood vessels and may lead to strokes, heart attacks and aneurysms. Whether or not you are currently being treated for your high blood pressure, knowing how different supplements and medications affect your blood pressure is important. Commonly found in soaps and hair products, topical vitamin E may be detrimental for people with high blood pressure.
Topical Vitamin E
Vitamin E refers to a class of compounds known as tocopherols and tocotrienols. Of these compounds, the Office of Dietary Supplements states that alpha-tocopherol is the only form suited to human dietary needs. By helping to remove the free radicals from your body that cause damage to healthy cells, vitamin E's antioxidant properties account for much of its health benefits. Found in high quantities in edible vegetable oils, vitamin E is also commonly used as a topical cream or oil. Although the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that you meet your daily needs through food sources of vitamin E, the use of topical vitamin E may help promote healthy skin due to its antioxidant effects.
Vitamin E and Hypertension
In a 2008 study, Dr. Ehud Grossman of Israel's Tel-Aviv University identified a link between high blood pressure and high concentrations of free radicals in the body. While numerous researchers have suggested that antioxidants such as vitamin E may help treat high blood pressure, Dr. Grossman's review of the literature found no consistent evidence for such an effect. As the use of antioxidants does not help to treat high blood pressure, Dr. Grossman suggests that high free radical concentrations are not a cause, but a symptom of high blood pressure.
Vitamin E and Blood Pressure Medications
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, vitamin E may interact with certain blood pressure medications. Whether topical or dietary, the use of vitamin E supplements may prevent the body from absorbing beta-blockers. This class of blood pressure medications includes Inderal, Sectral, Cartrol and Corgard, the effects of which may be inhibited by vitamin E. As such, topical vitamin E should be avoided if you are currently using beta-blockers to treat your high blood pressure.
Safety for High Blood Pressure
With the potential to interfere with some blood pressure medications, the use of vitamin E is not harmless for those afflicted with hypertension. Rather than help to lower blood pressure, a team headed by Natalie Ward of the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia found, in a 2007 study, that treatment with vitamin E may actually cause significant increases in blood pressure. Due to its numerous potentially harmful effects, you should consult with your doctor to determine if there is a safe alternative for topical vitamin E if you have high blood pressure.
References
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin E
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin E
- "Diabetes Care"; Does Increased Oxidative Stress Cause Hypertension?; Ehud Grossman; February 2008
- "Journal of Hypertension"; The Effect of Vitamin E on Blood Pressure in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial; Natalie C. Ward et al.; January 2007
