Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCalciumCoQ10Fish OilGarlicGingerGreen TeaL-ArginineMagnesiumPotassiumVitamin DSupplements to Avoid
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Calcium
CoQ10
Fish Oil
Garlic
Ginger
Green Tea
L-Arginine
Magnesium
Potassium
Vitamin D
Supplements to Avoid
Though high blood pressure (hypertension) is often treated with prescription drugs, some people prefer a natural approach and will opt to add a nutritional and herbal supplement to the treatment plan. Supplements may also be considered if you haveprehypertensionif used in combination with exercise, aheart-healthy diet, and weight loss.
Here are 12 nutritional and herbal supplements that may offer benefits to people with high blood pressure.
LWA / Dann Tardif / Getty Images
AHA/ACC Opinion on Supplements for HypertensionAlthough there is evidence that some herbs and supplements may help lower blood pressure, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) both favor lowering blood pressure with proper nutrition rather than with supplements.
AHA/ACC Opinion on Supplements for Hypertension
Although there is evidence that some herbs and supplements may help lower blood pressure, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) both favor lowering blood pressure with proper nutrition rather than with supplements.
Verywell Health’s Dietary Supplement Methodology
Calcium deficiency has been linked with high blood pressure.Calcium is an essential element that people often associate with healthy bones, but it is also involved in the regulation of smooth muscles and nerves, including those of thecardiovascular system.
A 2019 study in the journalNutrientsreported that people with a high calcium intake have an average reduction of 2.5 mm Hg in theirsystolic (upper) blood pressurecompared to those on the lower end of the scale.
Adults should aim to get about 1,300 milligrams (mg) of calcium per day from food and, if needed,calcium supplements.
Good sources of dietary calcium include:
Side effects from calcium supplements are uncommon but may include gas, constipation, and bloating, particularly if overused.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)is a substance found in nearly every cell in the human body that helps convert food into energy. It also plays a crucial role in the production of an energy source calledadenosine triphosphate(ATP)that helps sustain regular heartbeats.
Side effects of CoQ10 tend to be mild and may include stomach upset and insomnia. CoQ 10 can interact with blood thinners likewarfarin, as well asinsulinused to treat diabetes.
Fish oil containsomega-3 fatty acids, a type of fatty acid that is thought to be beneficial for the brain and heart.
Fish oil supplements can also be purchased over the counter, but you can also get it from eating fatty fish like:
The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fatty fish per week as part of a heart-healthy diet.
Some studies suggest that garlic has potent blood pressure-lowering effects. A 2020 review published in the journalAntioxidantsreported that people with high blood pressure saw an 8.0 mm Hg drop in their systolic blood pressure with garlic supplementation.
Garlic can be taken in the following forms:
Garlic supplements can increase bleeding and should be used with caution in people who use blood thinners like warfarin.
Heart Healthy Benefits of Garlic
The root of the ginger plant has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of unrelated health conditions, fromnauseato menstrual cramps.There is some evidence that it may be beneficial to people with high blood pressure.
Ginger is available in many forms, including:
Common side effects of ginger include belching, dry mouth, stomach upset, mouth irritation, and heartburn.
For centuries, tea has been used medicinally in Asian cultures.Green teais known for its high concentration ofantioxidants(which fight cell damage) which may translate to improved blood pressure in some people.
Green tea can be consumed as a tea or taken as a supplement. Green tea extract needs to be used with caution in people with liver disease due to the risk of liver injury.
L-arginineis an amino acid that the body uses to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide, in turn, is a vasodilator that causes blood vessels to widen (dilate). When blood vessels are dilated, blood pressure goes down.
Available over the counter as a supplement,L-argininecan cause headaches, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, and bloating in some people. It may also trigger an asthma attack in people with asthma.
Asmagnesium deficiencyis linked to hypertension, there are some who believe thatmagnesium supplementscould potentially help lower blood pressure.
Good sources of dietary magnesium include:
Overuse of magnesium supplements can lead to diarrhea.
Should You Take Magnesium Supplements?
While bananas as an excellent source of potassium, there are other very good sources including:
Potassium supplements can cause stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, or gas in some people.
Vitamin D deficiencyis common, with some studies suggesting that 40.9% of people in the United States get insufficient amounts ofvitamin D.
Research has shown that people with hypertension tend to have lower levels of vitamin D.By contrast, a 2017 review published inCureussuggested that people with the highest vitamin D levels have a 30% lower risk of hypertension than those with vitamin D deficiency.
In addition tosupplements, vitamin D can be found in foods like:
Overdosing on vitamin D supplements (over 4,000 IU a day) can lead to nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, and irregular heartbeats.
There are also some that can raise blood pressure. The following should be limited or altogether avoided if you are struggling to manage your blood pressure:
Summary
Certain nutritional and herbal supplements may help lower blood pressure. This includes calcium, CoQ10, fish oil, garlic, ginger, green tea, L-arginine, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin D.
24 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71:e13–e115. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065Villa-Etchegoyen C, Lombarte M, Matamoros N, et al.Mechanisms involved in the relationship between low calcium intake and high blood pressure.Nutrients. 2019 May 18;11(5):1112. doi:10.3390/nu11051112National Institutes of Health.Calcium.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Coenzyme Q10.Tabrizi R, Akbari M, Sharifi N.The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on blood pressures among patients with metabolic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev.2018 Mar;25(1):41-50. doi:10.1007/s40292-018-0247-2MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats: good for your heart.US Preventive Services Task Force.Vitamin, mineral, and multivitamin supplementation to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA.2022;327(23):2326–2333. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.8970American Heart Association.Fish and omega-3 fatty acids.Ansary J, Forbes-Hernández TY, Gil E, et al.Potential health benefit of garlic based on human intervention studies: a brief overview.Antioxidants(Basel). 2020 Jul 15;9(7):619. doi:10.3390/antiox9070619National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, et al.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res.2019 Jun;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Green tea.Xu R, Yang K, Ding J,Chen G. Effect of green tea supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicine.2020 February. 99(6):e19047. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000019047McRae MP.Therapeutic benefits of L-arginine: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2016;15(3):184-189. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2016.06.002MedlinePlus.L-arginine.Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al.Effects of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Trials.Hypertension. 2016;68(2):324-333. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07664MedlinePlus.Magnesium in diet.Gröber U, Schmidt J, Kisters K.Magnesium in prevention and therapy.Nutrients.2015 Sep 23;7(9):8199-226. doi:10.3390/nu7095388MedlinePlus.Potassium in diet.Cui A, Xiao P, Ma Y, et al.Prevalence, trend, and predictor analyses of vitamin D deficiency in the US population, 2001–2018.Front Nutr.2022;9:965376. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.965376Vatakencherry RMJ, Saraswathy L.Association between vitamin D and hypertension in people coming for health check up to a tertiary care centre in South India.J Family Med Prim Care.2019 Jun;8(6):2061–206. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_236_19Mehta V, Agawal S.Does vitamin deficiency lead to hypertension?Cureus.2017 Feb;9(2):e1038. doi:10.7759/cureus.1038Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71:e13–e115. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065Villa-Etchegoyen C, Lombarte M, Matamoros N, et al.Mechanisms involved in the relationship between low calcium intake and high blood pressure.Nutrients. 2019 May 18;11(5):1112. doi:10.3390/nu11051112National Institutes of Health.Calcium.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Coenzyme Q10.Tabrizi R, Akbari M, Sharifi N.The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on blood pressures among patients with metabolic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev.2018 Mar;25(1):41-50. doi:10.1007/s40292-018-0247-2MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats: good for your heart.US Preventive Services Task Force.Vitamin, mineral, and multivitamin supplementation to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA.2022;327(23):2326–2333. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.8970American Heart Association.Fish and omega-3 fatty acids.Ansary J, Forbes-Hernández TY, Gil E, et al.Potential health benefit of garlic based on human intervention studies: a brief overview.Antioxidants(Basel). 2020 Jul 15;9(7):619. doi:10.3390/antiox9070619National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, et al.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res.2019 Jun;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Green tea.Xu R, Yang K, Ding J,Chen G. Effect of green tea supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicine.2020 February. 99(6):e19047. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000019047McRae MP.Therapeutic benefits of L-arginine: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2016;15(3):184-189. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2016.06.002MedlinePlus.L-arginine.Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al.Effects of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Trials.Hypertension. 2016;68(2):324-333. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07664MedlinePlus.Magnesium in diet.Gröber U, Schmidt J, Kisters K.Magnesium in prevention and therapy.Nutrients.2015 Sep 23;7(9):8199-226. doi:10.3390/nu7095388MedlinePlus.Potassium in diet.Cui A, Xiao P, Ma Y, et al.Prevalence, trend, and predictor analyses of vitamin D deficiency in the US population, 2001–2018.Front Nutr.2022;9:965376. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.965376Vatakencherry RMJ, Saraswathy L.Association between vitamin D and hypertension in people coming for health check up to a tertiary care centre in South India.J Family Med Prim Care.2019 Jun;8(6):2061–206. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_236_19Mehta V, Agawal S.Does vitamin deficiency lead to hypertension?Cureus.2017 Feb;9(2):e1038. doi:10.7759/cureus.1038Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71:e13–e115. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065Villa-Etchegoyen C, Lombarte M, Matamoros N, et al.Mechanisms involved in the relationship between low calcium intake and high blood pressure.Nutrients. 2019 May 18;11(5):1112. doi:10.3390/nu11051112National Institutes of Health.Calcium.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Coenzyme Q10.Tabrizi R, Akbari M, Sharifi N.The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on blood pressures among patients with metabolic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev.2018 Mar;25(1):41-50. doi:10.1007/s40292-018-0247-2MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats: good for your heart.US Preventive Services Task Force.Vitamin, mineral, and multivitamin supplementation to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA.2022;327(23):2326–2333. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.8970American Heart Association.Fish and omega-3 fatty acids.Ansary J, Forbes-Hernández TY, Gil E, et al.Potential health benefit of garlic based on human intervention studies: a brief overview.Antioxidants(Basel). 2020 Jul 15;9(7):619. doi:10.3390/antiox9070619National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, et al.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res.2019 Jun;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Green tea.Xu R, Yang K, Ding J,Chen G. Effect of green tea supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicine.2020 February. 99(6):e19047. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000019047McRae MP.Therapeutic benefits of L-arginine: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2016;15(3):184-189. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2016.06.002MedlinePlus.L-arginine.Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al.Effects of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Trials.Hypertension. 2016;68(2):324-333. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07664MedlinePlus.Magnesium in diet.Gröber U, Schmidt J, Kisters K.Magnesium in prevention and therapy.Nutrients.2015 Sep 23;7(9):8199-226. doi:10.3390/nu7095388MedlinePlus.Potassium in diet.Cui A, Xiao P, Ma Y, et al.Prevalence, trend, and predictor analyses of vitamin D deficiency in the US population, 2001–2018.Front Nutr.2022;9:965376. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.965376Vatakencherry RMJ, Saraswathy L.Association between vitamin D and hypertension in people coming for health check up to a tertiary care centre in South India.J Family Med Prim Care.2019 Jun;8(6):2061–206. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_236_19Mehta V, Agawal S.Does vitamin deficiency lead to hypertension?Cureus.2017 Feb;9(2):e1038. doi:10.7759/cureus.1038Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.
Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines.Hypertension. 2018;71:e13–e115. doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065
Villa-Etchegoyen C, Lombarte M, Matamoros N, et al.Mechanisms involved in the relationship between low calcium intake and high blood pressure.Nutrients. 2019 May 18;11(5):1112. doi:10.3390/nu11051112
National Institutes of Health.Calcium.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Coenzyme Q10.
Tabrizi R, Akbari M, Sharifi N.The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on blood pressures among patients with metabolic diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev.2018 Mar;25(1):41-50. doi:10.1007/s40292-018-0247-2
MedlinePlus.Omega-3 fats: good for your heart.
US Preventive Services Task Force.Vitamin, mineral, and multivitamin supplementation to prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement.JAMA.2022;327(23):2326–2333. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.8970
American Heart Association.Fish and omega-3 fatty acids.
Ansary J, Forbes-Hernández TY, Gil E, et al.Potential health benefit of garlic based on human intervention studies: a brief overview.Antioxidants(Basel). 2020 Jul 15;9(7):619. doi:10.3390/antiox9070619
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Garlic.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Ginger.
Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, et al.Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.Phytother Res.2019 Jun;33(6):1639-1647. doi:10.1002/ptr.6362
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Green tea.
Xu R, Yang K, Ding J,Chen G. Effect of green tea supplementation on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicine.2020 February. 99(6):e19047. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000019047
McRae MP.Therapeutic benefits of L-arginine: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.J Chiropr Med. 2016;15(3):184-189. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2016.06.002
MedlinePlus.L-arginine.
Zhang X, Li Y, Del Gobbo LC, et al.Effects of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Trials.Hypertension. 2016;68(2):324-333. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07664
MedlinePlus.Magnesium in diet.
Gröber U, Schmidt J, Kisters K.Magnesium in prevention and therapy.Nutrients.2015 Sep 23;7(9):8199-226. doi:10.3390/nu7095388
MedlinePlus.Potassium in diet.
Cui A, Xiao P, Ma Y, et al.Prevalence, trend, and predictor analyses of vitamin D deficiency in the US population, 2001–2018.Front Nutr.2022;9:965376. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.965376
Vatakencherry RMJ, Saraswathy L.Association between vitamin D and hypertension in people coming for health check up to a tertiary care centre in South India.J Family Med Prim Care.2019 Jun;8(6):2061–206. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_236_19
Mehta V, Agawal S.Does vitamin deficiency lead to hypertension?Cureus.2017 Feb;9(2):e1038. doi:10.7759/cureus.1038
Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin D fact sheet for health professionals.
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