Combination Supplement May Help Improve Systolic Blood Pressure

Having a high systolic blood pressure for a long period of time may increase the risk of strokes, heart disease and chronic kidney disease. A recent study suggests that supplementation with curcumin, omega-3’s, tocotrienols, gamma-linoleic acid, and astaxanthin may help improve systolic blood pressure.

Eighty adults with an average age of 48.8 participated in the study. They received a supplement containing 500 mg of curcumin, 675 mg of omega-3’s, 3 mg of astaxanthin, 9.5 mg of gamma-linoleic acid, and 12.5 mg of tocotrienols or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. Blood pressure, endothelial function, and inflammatory markers were measured at baseline and at the end of the study period.

Participants in the supplement group saw an average 4.7 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure. They also saw an improvement in endothelial function and reductions in inflammatory markers compared to the placebo group.

The study was conducted by researchers from UCLA Medical Center. It was published on February 1, 2020 in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN.