High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major health problem affecting millions of people around the world.
It becomes especially hard to treat when standard medications don’t work well enough. But a recent study involving the University of Maine offers new hope.
Researchers found that vitamin B could help lower blood pressure by reducing the amount of a substance in the body called homocysteine.
To understand how this works, it’s helpful to first know what high blood pressure is. It happens when the pressure of blood pushing against artery walls stays too high for too long.
Doctors usually aim to keep blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg, though some experts now suggest a lower goal of below 130/80 mmHg. These lower targets are even harder to reach for some people.
Some individuals have drug-resistant high blood pressure. This means their blood pressure stays high despite taking several different types of medication. About 12.8% of people around the world live with this condition, which raises their risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other serious issues.
That’s where homocysteine comes in. It’s a natural chemical made by the body, but it needs to be controlled. B vitamins—like B6, B12, folate, and riboflavin (B2)—help keep homocysteine levels low. If the body doesn’t get enough of these vitamins, or if someone has a certain gene, homocysteine can build up in the blood.
Too much homocysteine can make small blood vessels tighter and narrower. This restricts blood flow and raises blood pressure.
The new research from the University of Maine found that taking extra B vitamins could lower homocysteine levels and reduce blood pressure by 6 to 13 mmHg. That’s a big improvement, especially for people whose high blood pressure hasn’t responded to medicine.
There’s still debate about what level of homocysteine is considered safe. Many labs say anything below 11.4 μmol/L is normal, but some experts argue it should be 10 μmol/L or lower.
Taking B vitamin supplements could be an easy and low-cost way to help control blood pressure. This might be especially useful for people who aren’t seeing results from medications alone.
Still, it’s important to talk to a doctor before starting any new supplements. Even though vitamins might seem harmless, taking too much or combining them with other treatments can lead to problems.
This study shows that vitamin B could play an important role in treating hard-to-manage high blood pressure. Adding these vitamins to a person’s treatment plan might give them a better chance of bringing their blood pressure down. As science learns more about how vitamins affect our bodies, they may become a bigger part of how we treat conditions like high blood pressure.
Always remember to speak with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment. What works for one person may not work for another, and safety should always come first.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about high blood pressure treatment: ARBs vs. ACE inhibitors and blood pressure response to exercise can predict future heart disease.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies about This daily food is very important for blood pressure and heart health and Common blood pressure medication may have harmful side effects.
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