Melatonin brings down blood pressure

I have mild hypertension and anything that helps bring down hypertension is naturally of interest to me.

I received several flyers in my most recent order of products from my favorite supplier of food supplements. And one of the flyers had to do with melatonin.

According to a team of American and Dutch researchers, taking melatonin may help reduce blood pressure. In the study, published in the American Heart Association's Journal, Hypertension (2004, vol.43, No. 2:192), 16 men with untreated hypertension were given 2.5 milligrams of melatonin or placebo nightly, one hour before they went to bed, for three weeks. Men who received the melatonin supplements reduced they night-time systolic pressure (top number) and diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) by an average of six and four millimeters of mercury, respectively. Researchers saw no change from taking only one dose of melatonin.

Guess what will be in my shopping cart as I shop at my favorite online food supplement store? Yes, melatonin! :-)

Further reading:

Daily Nighttime Melatonin Reduces Blood Pressure in Male Patients With Essential Hypertension

Melatonin May Have An Effect On Nocturnal Blood Pressure