Reversing Hypertention and High Blood Pressure

Heart disease and stroke are the first and third causes of death, respectively, in the United States. Hypertension is the major risk factor for heart disease and stroke1. High blood pressure killed nearly 50,000 Americans in 2002 and was listed as a primary or contributing factor in 261,000 deaths that year. The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that 73 million adults over the age of 20 have hypertension. Thirty percent don’t even know they have it! That's why high blood pressure is still called "the silent killer." Of those who know, only 60% have it treated. More than two out of three of those do not have it under control, control meaning less then140 mmHg over 90 mmHg!2 By gender, according to Marianne J Legato, MD, professor of clinical medicine Columbia University, only 19% of men and 28% of women with high blood pressure have it under control. Worse yet, the AHA believes that prevalence of hypertension is expected to increase with the aging population, growing obesity epidemic, and rising incidence of metabolic syndrome.

The above numbers argue that you should be monitoring blood pressure on a regular basis. When hypertension or pre-hypertension (discussed below) are found, it is time to take a serious look at both your lifestyle and especially your nutritional intake.

Blood Pressure by the Numbers:
Blood pressure is typically expressed as two numbers, one over the other, and is measured in millimeters of mercury (noted as mmHg). The top or first number is the systolic blood pressure, the pressure used when the heart beats. The bottom or second number, the diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure that exists in the arteries between heartbeats. A blood pressure reading of less than 120 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic (120/80) is considered “normal”. Optimal may be as low as 110/70 mmHg.

If the blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg it is defined as pre-hypertension. Patients with pre-hypertension are more likely to develop hypertension in the future and have increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Pre-hypertension therefore deserves attention, especially if other risk factors like metabolic syndrome or diabetes are present. A blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or more (either number) is considered high blood pressure. Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), where systolic is greater then 140 mmHg but diastolic is under 90 mmHg, is the most common form of high blood pressure in older Americans. Blood pressures of 140 -159 systolic and/or 90 - 99 diastolic are called stage 1 hypertension. Blood pressures where either number is greater then 159 / 100, is stage II hypertension and requires medical attention. In stage II hypertension usually two prescription medications to maintain numbers of less than 140/85.3

The cause of approximately 90 to 95 percent of all hypertension isn't known. This type of hypertension is called primary or essential high blood pressure. When the cause is known, it's called secondary hypertension. While there is no cure for essential hypertension, it is easily detected and is controllable with lifestyle changes and nutritional supplementation, and when necessary, medications. As an example of the import of even moderately successful interventions, in prospective observational studies, a long-term difference of 5-6 mm Hg in usual diastolic blood pressure is associated with about 35- 40% less stroke and 20-25% less coronary heart disease (CHD).4

Lowering Blood Pressure Naturally The first step is always lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, moderation in caffeine and alcohol, regular exercise, recreation and sleep, and a low sodium (<2 gm/day), potassium rich, high fruit and vegetable diet.

Fortunately there are also many OTC nutraceuticals that show potential in significantly lowering blood pressure.5 These include phytonutrients found in grape seed extract, cocoa, green tea extracts, quercitin, hawthorne, hibiscus tea, tomato extracts, soy isoflavones, and zoonutrients (milk and whey peptides and even peptides formed in fried eggs!) and fats (olive oil, flax oil, fish oil), though to a lesser degree.6-16 John Zhang, MD, PhD of Logan Chiropractic College has authored two human studies on physician strength nutraceuticals and pre-hypertension and hypertension. These studies included testing the multiingredient phytonutrient powdered drink mix (NanoGreens), a mutli-ingredient dairy whey based zoonutrient powdered drink mix (NanoPro), and the two nutraceutical powders together. In 90 days, the phytonutrient formula lowered blood systolic pressure 12.4 mmHg and the diastolic 7.1 mmHg. The zoonutrient formula lowered blood pressure 13.4 and 8.2, respectively. The combined group lowered blood pressure 10.9 and 13.9, systolic and diastolic respectively. These preliminary studies show an average decrease in systolic blood pressure of 12.6 points and a decrease in diastolic blood pressure of 9.7. These results match the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension Diet plus low sodium diet combined (DASH II diet) and the effect of any one commonly prescribed blood pressure medication.17,18 Abstract presenting the two latest Logan Chiropractic College studies with charts are referenced below.19,20

See the study resulsts and Blood Pressure recipes below.

Dr. John H. Maher
Co-Founder, BioPharma Scientific
“The SuperFood Solution™ provides all of thesenutrients in an easy to drink, tasty shake.”

References
1) Hypertensive Heart Disease, General Cardiology, Health Encyclopedia, University of Pennsylvania Health Systems
http://www.pennhealth.com/ency/article/000163.htm
2) FitzGerald RJ, Murray BA, Walsh DJ. The Emerging Role of Dairy Proteins and Bioactive Peptides in Nutrition and
Health: Hypotensive Peptides from Milk Proteins. J. Nutr. 134: 980S–988S, 2004.
3) Giles T. Lowering Blood Pressure With Combination Therapy: Focus on Combinations That Include Blockade of the
Renin-Angiotensin System. Topics in Adult Primary Care - Hypertension Expert Column. Medscape Family Medicine.
2005;7(1)
4) Collins R, Peto R, MacMahon S, Hebert P, Fiebach NH, Eberlein KA, et al. Blood pressure, stroke, and coronary heart
disease. Part 2, Short-term reductions in blood pressure: overview of randomised drug trials in their epidemiological
context. Lancet. 1990 Jun 23;335(8704):1534-5
5) Mark C. Houston, MD, SCH, FACP, FAHA, The Role of Vascular Biology, Nutrition, and Nutraceuticals in the
Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension., JANA, April 2002, Supplement No. 1 pp 20-40
6) Negishi H,Xu JW, Ikeda K,Njelekela M, Nara Y, Yamori Y.Black and Green Tea Polyphenols Attenuate Blood Pressure
Increases in Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. J. Nutr. 134:38-42, January 2004
7)Fraga, CG. Cocoa, diabetes, and hypertension: should we eat more chocolate? Editorial, American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 3, 541-542, March 2005
8) Rivas M, Garay RP, Escanero JF, Cia,P., Cia, P (Sr), Alda JO. Soy Milk Lowers Blood
Pressure in Men and Women with Mild to Moderate Essential Hypertension. J. Nutr. 132:1900-1902, 2002
8) Teres et al. Oleic Acid Content Is Responsible for the Reduction in Blood Pressure Induced by Olive Oil. Proc Natl
Acad Sci USA 105(37):13811-6(2008)
9) Radack, Kenneth, et al. The effects of low doses of n-3 fatty acid supplementation on blood pressure in hypertensive
subjects. Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 151, June 1991, pp. 1173- 80
10) Paschos GK, Magkos F, Panagiotakos DB, Votteas V, Zampelas A. Dietary supplementation with flaxseed oil lowers
blood pressure in dyslipidaemic patients.Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Oct;61(10):1201-6
11) Majumder K, Wu J.Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptides from Simulated in Vitro Gastrointestinal
Digestion of Cooked Eggs. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Volume 57, Issue 2, Pages 471-477
12) Ibid. 5, pp 36-40
13) Ibid. 2, 980s-988s
14) AHA 2008: Hibiscus Tea Reduces Blood Pressure. Medscape Medical News. American Heart Association 2008
Scientific Sessions: Abstract 3278. Presented November 10, 2008.
15) Grape Seed Extract for Blood Pressure? Study: Grape Seed Extract May Help Tame Prehypertension.American
Chemical Society's National Meeting & Exposition.Web MD http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-bloodpressure/
news/20060327/grape-seed-extract-blood-pressure
16) Edwards RL, Lyon T, Litwin SE, Rabovsky A, Symons JD, Jalili T.,Quercetin Reduces Blood Pressure in
Hypertensive Subjects.Nutr. 137:2405-2411, November 2007
17) Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT), JAMA, Vol. 288 No. 23,
December 18, 2002
18) Ibid. 5 p.20
19). Zhang J, Oxinos G, Maher J. The Effect of Fruit and Vegetable Powder Mix on Hypertensive Subjects, Journal of
Chiropractic Education, Spring 2007, Vol. 21 No. 1, p 93 http://biopharmasci.com/downloads/NGBPPosterabstract.pdf
20). Zhang J, Maher J. The Effects of Whey Zoonutrient Powder Alone and Combined with a Green Phytonutrient
Powder on Heart Rate Variability and Pre-Hypertension and Stage 1 Hypertension. Journal of Chiropractic Education,
Spring 2009, Vol. 23 No. 1, p 88 http://www.biopharmasci.com/hp/snp/science.asp

The effect of fruit and vegetable powder mix on
hypertensive subjects: a pilot study☆
John Zhang MD, PhDa,⁎, George Oxinos DCa, John H. Maher DCb
aFaculty, Logan College of Chiropractic, Chesterfield, MO 63006-1065
bFounder, Biopharma Scientific, Inc, San Diego, CA 92121
Received 15 April 2008; received in revised form 2 September 2008; accepted 23 September 2008
Key indexing terms:
Dietary supplements;
Nutrition therapy;
Blood pressure;
Chiropractic
Abstract
Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of a fruit and vegetable powder
mix on cardiovascular health as determined by blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV)
in a chiropractic college faculty and student population.
Methods: Forty subjects were recruited in the study via a schoolwide e-mail notification and
through personal contacts. NanoGreens (Biopharma Scientific, Inc, San Diego, CA) vegetable
supplement drink was tested to document its effect on the blood pressure and HRV in relation
to cardiovascular health.
Results: After taking the supplement for 90 days, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures
decreased significantly in the treatment group. The systolic blood pressure decreased from
140.4 ± 17.7 to 128 ± 14.2 mm Hg, and the diastolic blood pressure decreased from 90.2 ± 7.7
to 83.1 ± 7.4 mm Hg. No significant blood pressure decrease was observed in the control
group (systolic blood pressure from 130.8 ± 16.3 to 131 ± 16.1 mm Hg and diastolic blood
pressure from 83.6 ± 9.6 to 83.1 ± 7.9 mm Hg). Subject's body weight in pounds did not
change significantly in the experimental group: from 193.5 ± 31.1 to 194 ± 31.3. The body
weight in the control group showed an increase from 175.9 ± 27.4 to 178 ± 29.9, but it was
not significant. The heart rate did not show any statistically significant changes. Time domain
analysis of HRV showed an increase in the standard deviation of the average R-R intervals
root mean square of successive interbeat intervals, but it did not reach statistical significance.
Frequency analysis of HRV found an increase in the total power, but it did not reach a
significant level.
Conclusion: It was concluded that taking the nutritional supplement for 90 days reduced
blood pressure in this group of subjects. The HRV was not affected by the supplement over the 3-month period. Larger studies should be conducted to determine
effects on other populations.
© 2009 National University of Health Sciences.