Blood Pressure Drops with This Duo

October 23, 2007

Blood vessels need to be able to relax and dilate in order to maintain normal blood pressure. To do that requires properly functioning endothelial cells—the cells that line blood vessels. New research shows endothelial cells function better if their mitochondria are in good shape. (Mitochondria are a cell’s tiny power plants, and, as they produce energy, they can sustain oxidative damage.)

The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health and conducted at Boston University, used two nutritional supplements, alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine, thought to work together to improve mitochondrial function. It included two eight week periods. During one of those periods, 36 men at high risk for heart disease took 200 mg of alpha lipoic acid and 500 mg of acetyl-L-carnitine twice daily. During the second 8-week period, the men took a placebo. Blood pressure and artery dilation were monitored before and after both periods.

The results showed that treatment with alpha lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine improved brachial artery diameter by 2.3%. It also reduced systolic blood pressure by an average of 9 points in people who started out with the highest blood pressure, and by 9 points in people with metabolic syndrome. This large reduction in blood pressure could have a major effect on people’s cardiovascular risk, say researchers. Best of all: no side effects. (McMackin, CJ, et al. J Clin Hypertens 2007;9:249-255.)

If you’re interested in trying these two nutritional supplements for high blood pressure, discuss it with your doctor. That’s especially important if you are already taking blood pressure medications. It is possible to try a switch from drugs to an alpha lipoic acid/acetyl-L-carnitine combination, but this is best done with medical supervision.