New natural hypertension treatment to be tested

Diet alone may be enough to help people better control their blood pressure, and a new supplement could help the two thirds of Australians struggling with this condition.

A simple prebiotic supplement could be enough to help people control high blood pressure.

Melbourne researchers will test if the new powder helps promote the right mix of gut bacteria as a treatment for the two thirds of Australians whose hypertension is untreated or cannot be controlled by medication.

While a high-fibre diet — one rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains — has been shown to lower blood pressure, previous research from Monash University and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute has found this is likely to occur because of fibre’s effect on gut bacteria.

Lead researcher Dr Francine Marques said a type of fibre called “resistant starch” had emerged as a major piece of the gut health puzzle.

“This type of fibre is usually undigested, but once it reaches the gut the microbiome loves it,” Dr Marques said. “They feed on it, and the fermentation that’s caused by them digesting the fibre releases substances that we are learning are good for lowering blood pressure.”

On the back of these findings, the National Heart Foundation is funding a trial using a CSIRO-developed supplement in meals.

Two thirds of Australians struggle to control their blood pressure

The double-blinded study involves participants being given a specially prepared breakfast and dinner, which contains either a placebo or active supplement, for three weeks.

After a three-week break, they will return to the study and consume foods from the other arm.

Monash researchers used this same supplement, which contains modified resistant starch and those substances released in fibre fermentation, in a trial last year to prevent mice getting type 1 diabetes.

Dr Marques said although 30 per cent of adults had high blood pressure and it was a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke, many were reluctant to take medication because they did not feel the effects of hypertension.

“If your doctor tells you that you have high blood pressure, suddenly you’re on two or three pills a day and they will give you symptoms,” she said. “I can understand why people wouldn’t want medication when they didn’t feel unwell to start with.

“But having high blood pressure is the main risk factor for death, globally.

“It needs to be taken seriously, and yet many people want a natural way to decrease their blood pressure.”

The researchers want to recruit adults aged up 70 who have blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg and are not taking medications for the nine week study.

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