Nutraceuticals for blood pressure control.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the potential BP-lowering effects of chocolate flavanols and their long-term cardiovascular risk reduction.
Results Summary
The abstract mentions that cocoa flavonoids are supported by a large body of evidence for BP-lowering effects, but long-term safety and efficacy data are still pending from an ongoing large prospective study on chocolate flavanols.
Population
General population with raised cardiovascular risk due to uncomplicated hypertension.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified (short-term studies mentioned, long-term study ongoing)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | Significant effects | #1 |
Mediterranean diet | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | Significant effects | #2 |
potassium | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #3 |
L-arginine | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #4 |
vitamin C | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #5 |
vitamin D | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #6 |
cocoa flavonoids | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #7 |
beetroot juice | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #8 |
some probiotics | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #9 |
coenzyme Q10 | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #10 |
controlled-release melatonin | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #11 |
aged garlic extract | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #12 |
coffee | decrease | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | supported | #13 |
green tea | no change | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | not as yet been supported by adequate evidence | #14 |
flaxseed | no change | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | not as yet been supported by adequate evidence | #15 |
resveratrol | no change | blood pressure (BP) | - | - | not as yet been supported by adequate evidence | #16 |
chocolate flavanols | decrease | cardiovascular risk | - | - | will answer the question whether this may reduce | #17 |
Significant effects on blood pressure (BP) have been reported from large nutritional interventions, particularly the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the Mediterranean diet. In more recent years, numerous studies have investigated the possible BP-lowering effect of different nutraceuticals; these range from specific foods to minerals, lipids, whole proteins, peptides, amino acids, probiotics, and vitamins. While a very large body of evidence supports the use of potassium, L-arginine, vitamins C and D, cocoa flavonoids, beetroot juice, some probiotics, coenzyme Q10, controlled-release melatonin, aged garlic extract, and coffee, the use of other nutraceuticals, such as green tea, flaxseed, and resveratrol, has not as yet been supported by adequate evidence. In some cases, e.g. proteins/peptides, the responsible component needs also to be fully uncovered. Finally, while for most of the products only short-term studies are available, with no specific end-points, an ongoing very large prospective study on chocolate flavanols will answer the question whether this may reduce cardiovascular risk. Thus, in addition to data on long-term safety, further clinical research is advisable in order to identify, among active nutraceuticals, those with the best cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit ratio for a wide use in the general population with a raised cardiovascular risk consequent to uncomplicated hypertension.