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 .
Calcium supplementation in patients with essential hypertension: Assessment by office, home and ambulatory blood pressure
Objective To study the effects of a high calcium intake in hypertensive patients by blood pressure monitoring . Design In a r and omized crossover study , patients were assigned to an 8-week calcium supplementation period and an 8-week control period . The subjects were given 25 mmol/day ( 1 g/day ) of calcium as calcium carbonate during the intervention period . Setting A hypertension clinic in a tertiary teaching hospital . Patients Sixty untreated or treated hypertensive patients ( 35 men and 25 women , mean age 58 years ) with office systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg . Main outcome measures Office blood pressure , home blood pressure ( last 7 days ) , and ambulatory 24 h blood pressure ( every 30 min using TM-2421 ) . Results The serum calcium concentration and urinary calcium excretion increased significantly with calcium supplementation . Office , home and 24 h blood pressure were lower in the calcium period than in the control period , although the differences were small ( mean ± SEM office blood pressure : 1.2 ± 1.2/1.1 ± 0.7 mmHg ; home blood pressure : 1.9 ± 0.7/1.3 ± 0.6 mmHg ; 24 h blood pressure : 1.2 ± 0.8/0.9 ± 0.5 mmHg , ) , and significant only for home systolic and diastolic blood pressures . The difference in home systolic blood pressure was inversely correlated with the level of home blood pressure in the control period and with the difference in urinary calcium . The difference in 24 h systolic blood pressure was positively correlated with the control level of urinary calcium . Age , sex , antihypertensive medication , drinking habit , sodium intake or order of treatment did not significantly influence the effects of calcium supplementation . Conclusions An increase in calcium intake tends to lower office , home and ambulatory blood pressure in hypertensive patients . However , the antihypertensive effect is too small to support the general application of a high calcium intake in the treatment of hypertension
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 .