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 .
Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of potassium chloride in the treatment of mild hypertension.
Epidemiological and experimental data suggest blood pressure-lowering effects of dietary potassium . A r and omized , double-blind clinical trial was used to assess blood pressure response to orally administered potassium , 120 mEq/day , and to placebo in 101 adults with mild hypertension .  Blood pressure was measured with a r and om-zero sphygmomanometer every 2 weeks of this 8-week trial . Systolic blood pressure in the potassium-treated group decreased by 6.4 + /- 13.7 ( SD ) mm Hg ( p less than or equal to 0.025 ) compared with 0.11 + /- 13.0 mm Hg in the placebo-treated group ( p = 0.96 ) . Diastolic blood pressure in the potassium-treated group decreased by 4.1 + /- 8.3 mm Hg ( p less than or equal to 0.05 ) compared with a 1.6 + /- 6.5 mm Hg decrease in placebo-treated subjects ( p = 0.09 ) . Baseline blood pressure of potassium-treated subjects was unexpectedly higher than that of controls . After correcting for baseline variation , blood pressure still decreased 3.4/1.8 mm Hg more in potassium recipients than in placebo recipients ( p = 0.14 and 0.24 , respectively ) . Blood pressure decreased by 19/13 mm Hg in five blacks taking potassium versus a 1/0 mm Hg increase in seven blacks taking placebo .  Compliance with the potassium regimen was 91.5 % by pill count ; only one subject discontinued treatment because of side effects . In conclusion , 120 mEq/day of microencapsulated potassium chloride was well tolerated in adults with mild hypertension . An antihypertensive effect of potassium can not be ruled out despite the fact that there was no statistically significant difference between potassium-treated and placebo-treated subjects after adjustment for differences in baseline blood pressure . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
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 .