A new study from the University of Maine has found that certain B vitamins might help lower blood pressure, especially for people who don’t respond well to common blood pressure drugs.
This discovery could offer a safe and affordable way to improve heart health.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a big health problem all over the world. It increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
Some people have what is called “drug-resistant hypertension,” which means their blood pressure stays high even after taking three different types of medication. About 13 out of every 100 people with high blood pressure have this problem.
In recent years, doctors have started using stricter guidelines for what counts as high blood pressure. Now, blood pressure that is 130/80 mmHg or higher is considered too high. Before, the number used to be 140/90 mmHg. This change has made it even harder for some people to meet the target.
The new study looked at a natural substance in the body called homocysteine. This chemical is produced during normal metabolism, but if its level becomes too high, it can be harmful. High homocysteine levels can lead to narrowed blood vessels, which raises the risk of high blood pressure and heart problems.
Some people have high homocysteine because of genetics, but it can also happen when the body doesn’t get enough B vitamins—such as B6, B12, folate (B9), and riboflavin (B2).
The good news is that lowering homocysteine is not hard or expensive. It can often be done by taking vitamin supplements. In this study, the researchers reviewed past research and found that taking B vitamins lowered blood pressure by about 6 to 13 mmHg. That’s a big drop, especially for people who don’t respond well to other treatments.
The researchers also found that the way homocysteine is measured might need to change. Right now, some labs say that a level of 11.4 μmol/L is still normal, but the researchers believe the safer level is 10 μmol/L or even lower. They say that if labs use better standards, doctors may be able to spot risks earlier and help people avoid serious health issues.
This does not mean everyone should rush to take vitamin pills. The researchers say that people should always talk to their doctor first. Vitamin therapy can help, but it’s important to use it safely and with medical guidance.
The study, led by Dr. Merrill Elias, was published in the American Journal of Hypertension. It shows that B vitamins might be a helpful and low-cost option for people with hard-to-treat blood pressure. This offers new hope for better blood pressure control and overall heart health.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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