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MSM

Health News Archive 223 - Blood Pressure
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Olive Leaf Extract Lowers Blood Pressure

Olive leaf extract dose-dependently reduces blood pressure, according to a study conducted on human twins and presented at the Phytopharmaka and Phytotherapy 2005 Congress in Berlin, Germany.

Twenty monozygotic twins were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 took 500 mg/day olive leaf extract; Group 2 took 1,000 mg/day olive leaf extract. Blood pressure was recorded at baseline and after one, two, four, six and eight weeks; the mean value of these readings was used for data analysis.

In Group 1, systolic blood pressure decreased by six mmHg and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 13 mmHg. Greater reductions in blood pressure were observed in Group 2 (19 mmHg and 10 mmHg, respectively). Both groups experienced significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.

The researchers concluded the results of the study support the beneficial effect of olive leaf extract as a dietary supplement in the control of a non-pharmacological approach for the treatment of mild hypertensive states.