Dr. David McCarron reported a study in June 1984 in Science, Volume 224, that low intake of calcium, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C were all associated with a higher incidence of hypertension. Patients who were treated with oral magnesium supplementation showed a significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Magnesium is now regarded as nature's own calcium-channel blocker. There have been several recent reports in the medical literature, which are relating excessive free radical production or oxidative stress as one of the main causes of hypertension. This creates irritation and inflammation of the surface linings of our arteries and decreases the release of nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is essential for proper functioning and relaxation of our arteries.
Studies have shown that vitamin C in supplementation is able to restore nitric oxide activity in hypertensive patients. Dr. Russo also reported in the September 1998 issue of the Journal of Hypertension that oxidized-LDL cholesterol also caused injury to the endothelium. He demonstrated that hypertension is associated with greater than normal lipoperoxidation and an imbalance in the anti-oxidant status. This suggests that oxidative stress is an important factor in the development of hypertension and that antioxidants taken in supplementation could be beneficial. There have been several studies that have shown that Coenzyme Q-10 is not only able to lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures but also was able to lower insulin resistance, which decreased glucose and triglycerides.