Roselle for hypertension in adults

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Cardiovascular Health
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Hypertension is a global health concern, increasing the risk of stroke and cardiovascular diseases.
• Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), a tropical plant, has traditional medicinal uses, including potential blood pressure-lowering effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of Roselle consumption on blood pressure levels in individuals with primary hypertension.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Roselle as a natural intervention for hypertension management.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted, searching multiple databases without language or publication date restrictions.
• Included RCTs compared Roselle in any form against placebo or no treatment in adults with hypertension.
• Primary outcomes focused on changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP); secondary outcomes included adverse effects and heart rate.

Main Results:

• Only one RCT with 60 participants met the inclusion criteria, comparing Roselle extract capsules to placebo over eight weeks.
• The study exhibited a high risk of bias in several domains (attrition, reporting, baseline imbalance).
• Evidence regarding Roselle's effect on SBP (MD 1.65 mmHg) and DBP (MD 4.60 mmHg) was of very low certainty, with wide confidence intervals, and secondary outcomes were unreported.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence is insufficient to establish the effectiveness of Roselle for blood pressure control in hypertensive patients.
• The very low certainty of evidence, stemming from methodological limitations and imprecision, highlights the need for high-quality RCTs.
• Further rigorous research is required to definitively determine Roselle's role in hypertension management.