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 .
Responses of atrial natriuretic factor to long-term sodium restriction in mild to moderate hypertension.
The effects of long-term sodium restriction on plasma atrial natriuretic factor ( ANF ) concentrations , and the role of baseline plasma ANF concentration as an indicator of changes in haemodynamics and left ventricular hypertrophy during this treatment were studied in 40 middle-aged previously untreated mildly to moderately hypertensive men and women in a 6-month controlled r and omized study . The main emphasis of the treatment programme was to reduce daily sodium intake to less than 70 mmol . Mean sodium excretion decreased from 148 + /- 74 mmol 24 h-1 to 79 + /- 71 mmol 24 h-1 in the treatment group , but remained unchanged in the control group ( 173 + /- 68 mmol 24 h-1 vs. 186 + /- 62 mmol 24 h-1 ; P less than 0.01 for the difference in changes between the groups ) . Mean plasma ANF concentrations in the treatment group were 52.4 + /- 20.7 ( median 50 ) pg ml-1 at baseline and 38.7 + /- 26.3 ( median 42 ) pg ml-1 at 6 months , and the corresponding values in the control group were 55.5 + /- 20.5 ( median 50 ) pg ml-1 and 46.1 + /- 32.4 ( median 50 ) pg ml-1 , respectively ( P = NS for the difference in changes ) . The ANF concentration decreased from 70 + /- 14 pg ml-1 to 32 + /- 26 pg ml-1 in treated subjects with a high baseline plasma ANF concentration ( greater than 50 pg ml-1 ) , but increased from 37 + /- 11 pg ml-1 to 45 + /- 27 pg ml-1 in subjects with a low baseline plasma ANF concentration ( less than or equal to 50 pg ml-1 ) ( difference in changes P less than 0.001 ) . Compared with treated subjects with low baseline plasma ANF levels and with controls , treated subjects with high baseline plasma ANF levels showed a decrease ( P less than 0.05 ) in interventricular septal and left posterior wall thicknesses , in relative wall thickness , and in peripheral resistance . These results suggest that in mildly to moderately hypertensive subjects long-term sodium restriction decreases high plasma ANF concentrations concomitantly with regression of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy , probably as a result of changes in haemodynamics
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 .