Are Nutraceuticals Effective in Controlling Essential Hypertension

Abstract

According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of essential hypertension (adults, 20 years of age or older) in the U.S.A. was estimated to be 33.5% (2013-2014 data), with an estimated death rate of 9.5 per 100,000 due to this illness [1]. The CDC reports also state that the occurrence of this disease in the population varies by age, gender, and ethnicity. Older persons, males (up to the age of 45 years), and African-Americans suffer from this condition the most [2]. Treating hypertension with antihypertensive drugs has been the mainstay for managing individuals with this condition. Surveys in the U.S.A. have shown that clinician’s choice for selecting a particular antihypertensive medication was not correlated with age, gender, ethnicity, or the medical insurance the patient had [3]. Moreover, the most prescribed medications were (in descending order) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and betablockers [3]. It is interesting to note that hypertension and osteoporosis, both are frequently encountered in older patients, share similar risk factors of genetic predisposition and environmental conditions. Moreover, antihypertensive medications can influence, positively or negatively, the bone mineral density in patients with osteoporosis [4]. In this editorial, the use of some nutraceuticals by patients suffering from essential hypertension is briefly discussed.