Oxidative stress and hypertension: Possibility of hypertension therapy with antioxidants

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Oxidative Stress Research
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Hypertension is a significant risk factor for severe cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke.
• Metabolic abnormalities like diabetes and dyslipidemia frequently co-occur with hypertension, with increasing prevalence.
• Emerging evidence suggests oxidative stress plays a critical role in hypertension development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of hypertension.
• To evaluate the efficacy of antioxidant supplementation in managing hypertension and reducing oxidative damage.
• To present a list of medicinal plants with reported antihypertensive properties.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies on oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, hydrogen peroxide, lipid hydroperoxides) in hypertensive patients.
• Analysis of clinical trial data on the effectiveness of antioxidant supplementation for blood pressure control.
• Compilation of research on medicinal plants used for hypertension treatment.

Main Results:

• Hypertensive subjects exhibit reduced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased production of reactive oxygen species and lipid hydroperoxides.
• Antioxidant supplementation has not consistently demonstrated significant improvements in blood pressure control.
• Certain dietary antioxidants may offer benefits for cardiovascular risk factors, but supplementation efficacy is variable.

Conclusions:

• While oxidative stress is implicated in hypertension, antioxidant supplementation alone is not a consistently effective treatment strategy.
• Further research is needed to clarify the role of antioxidants and explore alternative therapeutic approaches, such as medicinal plants, for hypertension management.