Moringa and blood pressure: Why take them?

Moringa is considered a cardiovascular tonic in various parts of the world, with antihypertensive effects, meaning it can lower blood pressure. These effects have been analyzed in numerous studies, which make the use of this plant to lower blood pressure appear encouraging.

Table of contents

• Moringa, the origins
• Lowering blood pressure as one of the health benefits of Moringa
• Moringa and blood pressure: The studies
• What consequences can untreated hypertension have?
• Hypertension: the numbers in Italy
• What does it mean to be hypertensive
• What is hypertension
• What is blood pressure?
• How do you measure blood pressure?
• How do you determine blood pressure?
• Why is high blood pressure harmful to health?
• You can fight hypertension with a healthy lifestyle

Moringa, the origins

Moringa is native to the northern sub-Himalayan regions of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan and is now also grown in Europe using organic and natural methods. It is subject to a safe and controlled production process with Italian and European certification, marked as EU agriculture.

Lowering blood pressure as one of the health benefits of Moringa

Among the various health benefits attributed to moringa, a plant that has been described in several cases as 'miraculous' or 'magical' due to its nutritional richness and its potential in the treatment of some clinical conditions, both beliefs and science attest to its Ability to at least partially reduce blood pressure.

Moringa and blood pressure: The studies

While on the one hand the 'popular beliefs' suggest that moringa may have antihypertensive properties, this is actually supported by some studies isolating the 'hypertensive' components in the leaves, such as niacin A, niacin B and niazimicin.*

This is discussed in the study 'Isolation and Structure Elucidation of New Nitrile and Mustard Oil Glycosides from Moringa oleifera and Their Effect on Blood Pressure'*.

Even more comprehensive is the compilation: A review of the therapeutic benefits of Moringa oleifera in the control of high blood pressure (hypertension), published in Bentham Science Publishers; here is the link to the publication.

The forecasts for the number of people living with high blood pressure are also highlighted here: an increase of 1.56 billion is expected worldwide by 2025, despite numerous preventive and therapeutic strategies currently available.

What consequences can untreated hypertension have?

The consequences of untreated high blood pressure can lead to cardiovascular diseases such as angina, heart failure, heart attack, stroke and chronic kidney disease. Studies on moringa aim to identify and understand its role in managing high blood pressure in order to expand strategies to control this condition.

The conclusions of the study 'Moringa oleifera leaf extract enhances endothelial nitric oxide production leading to relaxation of resistance artery and lowering of arterial blood pressure'* are interesting in this context.

In fact, according to the results, Moringa Oleifera leaf extract improves endothelial nitric oxide production, which could be the reason for relaxation of resistance artery and reduction of arterial blood pressure.

This study was conducted on rats and found positive results suggesting the development of moringa leaf extract as a natural antihypertensive dietary supplement.

In another study, Moringa oleifera leaf extract lowered high blood pressure by alleviating vascular dysfunction and reducing oxidative stress in hypertensive rats.

In the study 'Cardiovascular effects of the aqueous extract of Moringa pterygosperma'*, the effects on the cardiovascular system are addressed by aqueous extract from the bark of the stem of Moringa pterygosperma, studied for various pharmacological parameters. This research, conducted on animals, confirmed some blood pressure lowering effects.*

Another study titled 'Ethno-medicinal and culinary uses of Moringa oleifera Lam. in Nigeria', published on academicjournals.org, highlights the ethnomedical aspects and the associated appreciation of moringa in tropical and subtropical countries. The study consisted of a survey to assess the level of knowledge on the use of moringa to document its current use in Nigeria, where this plant grows in the wild.

Through a structured interview program, the following data was collected, which showed that moringa was considered useful for blood pressure control by 64.7% of the sample surveyed:

'The majority (98.9%) of respondents reported having used or seen moringa plants for food and medicinal purposes. Most Nigerians were aware of the moringa plant and used it for various medicinal and culinary purposes, especially the leaves. Specifically, the leaves were used as a vegetable for the preparation of soups, salads and tea; Medicinal uses of the leaves included treating fever (78.7%), treating ear infections (71.8%), lowering blood sugar levels (diabetes mellitus) (65.2%), and lowering blood pressure (64, 7%).

Hypertension: the numbers in Italy

The data on hypertension in Italy, according to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Cuore Project) and data from the SIIA - Società Italiana dell'Ipertensione Arteriosa*, affects a significant part of the population, with 33% of men and 31% of women, of of which 19% and 14% are in high-risk conditions, respectively.

What does it mean to be hypertensive

As hypertension refers to a 'blood pressure equal to or higher than 160/95 mmHg or specific drug treatment'. While the term 'risk condition' means that the systolic blood pressure value is between 140 and 160 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure value is between 90 and 95 mmHg.

What is hypertension

Among the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure is responsible for approximately 9 million deaths per year (according to WHO*).

Hypertension underlies ischemic heart disease and is the most common cause of death worldwide*.

According to Oec/Hes (Observatorio Epidemiológico Cardiovascular/Health Examination Survey) in Italy, the proportion of hypertensives is now 56% in men and 43% in women, with rates higher in the north and south than in the center of the country.

Similar to cholesterolemia, high blood pressure is often due to lifestyle. In fact, 90-95% of cases of essential hypertension depend on poor diet, overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity.

Smoking can also worsen this condition. However, in 5-10% of cases it is secondary hypertension caused by the endocrine system, the kidneys or medications.*

Some studies suggest that high blood pressure is not necessarily related to age, but may also be due to an increase in salt consumption in the diet.*

The main risk factors include: stroke, heart attack, chronic kidney failure, peripheral artery disease and retinopathy;

Just 10 mmHg less systolic blood pressure or 5 mmHg less diastolic blood pressure explains a reduction in the risk of stroke by 40% and the risk of heart attack and other coronary diseases by 20-25%. Therefore, reducing average blood pressure in the population helps reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, age-related diseases (dementia and disability) and death from cardiovascular disease.' ( https://www.epicentro.iss.it/cardiovascolare/whd )

What is blood pressure?

You have to imagine the heart as a pump that uses its contractions to send blood to the tissues and organs of the body. In this way, the heart exerts a necessary force (pressure) to circulate blood throughout the body.

According to the definition of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and in particular Epicentro - Epidemiologia per la sanità pubblica, blood pressure is a force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. When blood pressure is high, it squeezes as the heart contracts and blood rushes into the arteries. In this case, blood pressure is called systolic or maximum. 'Between two heartbeats, the heart fills with blood and the lowest arterial pressure, the diastolic or minimum pressure, is measured.

How do you measure blood pressure?

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and differs in:

Diastolic blood pressure: It is measured between two contractions when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.

Systolic blood pressure: It is measured when the heart contracts and blood is pumped into the arteries.

As mentioned earlier, the correct blood pressure values ​​should be between 120 mmHg for systolic pressure and 80 mmHg for diastolic pressure.*

Blood pressure is measured using a device called a mercury sphygmomanometer and a stethoscope. The measurement is usually taken on the peripheral area of ​​the body, often on the right arm and in a sitting position.

For a correct measurement, two consecutive measurements should be taken at short intervals (see video on the Cuore project website).

How do you determine blood pressure?

According to a classification by the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure:

• "It is considered 'normal' if the systolic blood pressure is below 120 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is below 80 mmHg.
• One speaks of 'pre-hypertension' when the systolic blood pressure is between 120 and 140 mmHg or the diastolic blood pressure is between 80 and 90 mmHg.
• High blood pressure is defined as having systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg.

One of the problematic aspects associated with high blood pressure is that its increase often goes unnoticed unless certain clinical complications arise. For this reason, it is important to measure blood pressure at least once a year, since in Italy 'it is estimated that at least 15 million people have a blood pressure of ≥160 mmHg or are receiving antihypertensive treatment.

Why is high blood pressure harmful to health?

As blood pressure increases, the risk of cardiovascular disease also increases linearly. The higher the blood pressure, the higher the risk of getting sick.

This is now proven by numerous epidemiological studies, which are documented in detail on the official websites. Blood pressure is considered a risk factor even when blood pressure levels are moderately elevated, and about a third of deaths from coronary heart disease are attributed to blood pressure, even in people who are not considered hypertensive.

You can fight hypertension with a healthy lifestyle

It is clinically proven that a healthy lifestyle from childhood can help prevent cardiovascular disease and keep blood pressure under control. What do the experts at Epicentro (Istituto Superiore di Sanità) recommend in this context?

1. It is crucial to follow a balanced diet that is high in fiber, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and low in saturated fats such as animal fats, red meat, cheese and sausages. Calories should be kept in mind to ensure they are not excessive. Fruits and vegetables are essential due to their high vitamin and potassium content, which is extremely important for the proper functioning of organs.
2. It is no less important to reduce salt intake , which should not be more than 5 grams per day. Even bread often contains high levels of sodium, so you should prefer Tuscan bread, which is less salted. It's important to pay attention to salt content because there are often significant amounts of it in packaged products, including crackers, cookies, snack foods, breakfast cereals, deli meats and cheese. Therefore, moderate use of these foods and monitoring the "low sodium" label, which contains no more than 120 mg of sodium per 100 g, is advisable.*
3. Exercise is crucial , preferably in the fresh air. Doctors recommend at least half an hour a day, three to five times a week. Favorite activities include brisk walking and cycling.
4. Stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption , also reduce coffee (maximum two cups per day). Smoking is a risk factor for high blood pressure and should be avoided; Limit alcohol consumption to one glass of wine per meal for men and no more than one glass per day for women.
5. Maintaining a healthy weight gain : This is achieved by calculating the body mass index, which should be between 18 and 24 kg/m², taking into account weight and height.*
6. Avoid stress at all costs , as it is a risk factor: anger increases blood pressure. Practice relaxation activities such as yoga, meditation, reading, etc.

Below is the DASH diet (Abbreviation for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which is quite similar to the Mediterranean diet developed by Ancel Keys in the 1960s. As reported by Epicentro, the figure shows the reduction in blood pressure levels that can be achieved by implementing certain behaviors and lifestyles.

If you have high blood pressure, it is important to contact your family doctor or specialist to receive appropriate treatment and evaluate possible risk factors. Medication can undoubtedly help keep blood pressure in check, but a healthy lifestyle should be the lifestyle to limit risks and regain well-being.

References:

• *https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/np50111a011
• *https://doi.org/10.2174/2215083805666190208163441
• *https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/ben/ctm/2019/00000005/00000003/art00004
• *https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332220307988
• *https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/donne/benessere/moringa-un-nome-bizzarro-per-un-albero-miracoloso_16795152-202002a.shtml
• *https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0944711318305440
• *https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.2650090109
• *https://academicjournals.org/journal/JMPR/article-full-text-pdf/6A27CAA22304
• *https://siia.it/per-il-pubblico/ipertensione/ipertensione-i-numeri-in-italia/
• *https://siia.it/per-il-pubblico/ipertensione/ipertensione-i-numeri-in-italia/
• *https://www.epicentro.iss.it/cardiovascolare/whdDatiOEC
• *http://www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org/gbd/visualizations/regional
• *http://www.cuore.iss.it/prevenzione/ipertensione
• *https://www.fondazioneveronesi.it/magazine/articoli/alimentazione/poco-sale-e-molto-calcio-contro-lx2019ipertensione