Does evidence support the use of supplements to aid in BP control?
EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER:
Yes. A number of well-tolerated natural therapies have been shown to reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP). (See Table1-8 for summary.) However, the studies don’t provide direct evidence of whether the decrease in BP is linked to patient-oriented outcomes. Nor do they allow definitive conclusions concerning the lasting nature of the reductions, because most studies were fewer than 6 months in duration (strength of recommendation: C, disease-oriented evidence).
Editor’s takeaway
Many studies have demonstrated BP benefits from a variety of natural supplements. Although the studies’ durations are short, the effects sometimes modest, and the outcomes disease-oriented rather than patient-oriented, the findings can provide a useful complement to our efforts to manage this most common chronic disease.
