title: Promising hypotensive effect of hawthorn extract: a randomized double-blind pilot study of mild, essential hypertension.
abstract: This pilot study was aimed at investigating the hypotensive potential of hawthorn extract and magnesium dietary supplements individually and in combination, compared with a placebo. Thirty-six mildly hypertensive subjects completed the study. At baseline, anthropometric and dietary assessment, as well as blood pressure measurements were taken at rest, after exercise and after a computer 'stress' test. Volunteers were then randomly assigned to a daily supplement for 10 weeks of either: (a) 600 mg Mg, (b) 500 mg hawthorn extract, (c) a combination of (a) and (b), (d) placebo. Measurements were repeated at 5 and 10 weeks of intervention. There was a decline in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all treatment groups, including placebo, but ANOVA provided no evidence of difference between treatments. However, factorial contrast analysis in ANOVA showed a promising reduction (p = 0.081) in the resting diastolic blood pressure at week 10 in the 19 subjects who were assigned to the hawthorn extract, compared with the other groups. Furthermore, a trend towards a reduction in anxiety (p = 0.094) was also observed in those taking hawthorn compared with the other groups. These findings warrant further study, particularly in view of the low dose of hawthorn extract used.
authors.affiliation: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, School of Food Biosciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 226, Reading RG6 6AP, UK. A.F.Walker@afnovell.reading.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ann F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marakis
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D027825:Crataegus; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D008274:Magnesium