Robust statistically significant effects were found for improved diet , aerobic exercise , alcohol and sodium restriction , and fish oil supplements : mean reductions in systolic blood pressure of 5.0 mmHg [ 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) : 3.1 - 7.0 ] , 4.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.0 - 7.1 ) , 3.8 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 1.4 - 6.1 ) , 3.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.5 - 4.6 ) and 2.3 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 0.2 - 4.3 ) , respectively , with corresponding reductions in diastolic blood pressure .
Relaxation significantly reduced blood pressure only when compared with non-intervention controls .
We found no robust evidence of any important effect on blood pressure of potassium , magnesium or calcium supplements .
Available evidence does not support relaxation therapies , calcium , magnesium or potassium supplements to reduce blood pressure
PURPOSE To quantify effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for hypertension .
Effectiveness of advice to reduce alcohol consumption in hypertensive patients.
The relation between alcohol consumption and blood pressure is well recognized , and advice to reduce alcohol plays an important part in the management of hypertensive patients . We have evaluated the effectiveness of this advice in a r and omized , controlled , single-blind clinical study . After a 2-week run-in period , hypertensive men regularly consuming more than 20 units/wk ( 1 unit = 10 g ) of alcohol  were r and omly assigned either to the " advice " or control group and were seen at 2-week intervals over an 8-week study period . The outcome measures were : reported alcohol consumption ( 1-week retrospective diary ) , markers of alcohol consumption ( serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase , aspartate aminotransferase , uric acid , mean corpuscular volume ) , and blood pressure ( sitting and st and ing ) . Over 18 months , 67 men who drank more than 20 units/wk of alcohol were seen . Twenty-six either were excluded , refused to participate , or dropped out due to nonattendance . Forty-one patients completed the study . After intervention , reported alcohol consumption fell from 60 units/wk to around 30 units/wk in the advice group , whereas it remained between 50 and 60 units/wk in the control group ( analysis of variance [ ANOVA ] F = 7.1 , p less than 0.05 ) . This was accompanied by falls in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase ( 20.9 % ) and aspartate aminotransferase ( 18.1 % ) , but no significant changes were seen in the control group . St and ing diastolic blood pressure fell significantly in the advice group ( from 101.5 mm Hg to 96.3 mm Hg ) compared with the control group ( ANOVA F = 4.8 , p less than 0.05 ) . The results suggest that advice to reduce alcohol consumption is a useful form of treatment for hypertensive patients who drink excessively
Robust statistically significant effects were found for improved diet , aerobic exercise , alcohol and sodium restriction , and fish oil supplements : mean reductions in systolic blood pressure of 5.0 mmHg [ 95 % confidence interval ( CI ) : 3.1 - 7.0 ] , 4.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.0 - 7.1 ) , 3.8 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 1.4 - 6.1 ) , 3.6 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 2.5 - 4.6 ) and 2.3 mmHg ( 95 % CI : 0.2 - 4.3 ) , respectively , with corresponding reductions in diastolic blood pressure .
Relaxation significantly reduced blood pressure only when compared with non-intervention controls .
We found no robust evidence of any important effect on blood pressure of potassium , magnesium or calcium supplements .
Available evidence does not support relaxation therapies , calcium , magnesium or potassium supplements to reduce blood pressure
PURPOSE To quantify effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for hypertension .