PHARM.D

Black Tea Lowers Blood Pressure in Small Trial  Drinking black tea appears to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, research shows [1]. Three daily cups, which provided approximately 400 mg/day of polyphenols, reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure between 2 to 3 mm Hg, according to researchers. "A large proportion of the general population has blood pressure within the range included in this trial, making results of the trial applicable to individuals at increased risk of hypertension," write Dr Jonathan Hodgson (University of Western Australia, Perth) and colleagues in a research letter published in the January 23, 2012 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine . Black tea is a common source of flavonoids, which have been suggested to contribute to vascular health. The researchers point out that they have shown that flavonoids augment nitric-oxide status and reduce plasma concentration of endothelin-1, both of which could contribute to red...

Sugary drinks elevate blood pressure Radha Chitale Soft drinks, juices and other sugar-sweetened beverages were linked to high blood pressure in adults, according to a study, and may be a possible intervention method for those at risk of the condition. Previous studies have shown that reduced sugary drink consumption is linked to reduced blood pressure. [Circulation 2010;121:2398-2406] High blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In a cohort of 2,696 patients from the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) group, the researchers determined that there was a direct relationship between sugary drink intake and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, even after adjusting for body mass. [Hypertension 2011 Apr;57(4):695-701] Every extra sugary drink was associated with a 1 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure (P<0.001) and a 0.8 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure. INTERMAP participants included adults aged 40-59 years fr...