INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF GINGER TEA ORAC VALUE IN HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT

Background: Hypertension is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease, and remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality. Despite pharmacological advancements, dietary and lifestyle interventions play a crucial role in its management. Ginger, a bioactive-rich plant with high Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC), has been recognized for its potential cardiovascular benefits. This study investigates the efficacy of ORAC-rich ginger tea in reducing blood pressure, improving lipid profiles, and enhancing arterial compliance in hypertensive individuals. Objective: To evaluate the impact of ginger tea consumption on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile parameters, and arterial stiffness as an adjunct to conventional hypertension management. Methods: This single-blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in outpatient clinics of a university hospital. A total of 50 participants aged 30-65 years with stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n=25), receiving ginger tea (2 g ginger root powder steeped in 250 mL hot water daily for 12 weeks), or the control group (n=25), receiving placebo tea. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and arterial stiffness (measured via pulse wave velocity) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank and Mann-Whitney U tests, with significance set at p<0.05. Results: The intervention group exhibited a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (135.2 ± 12.4 mmHg to 126.0 ± 9.8 mmHg, p=0.006) and diastolic blood pressure (85.4 ± 8.7 mmHg to 78.5 ± 7.2 mmHg, p=0.010). Total cholesterol levels declined from 210.1 ± 22.0 mg/dL to 190.5 ± 18.4 mg/dL (p=0.004), while LDL cholesterol decreased from 140.4 ± 18.7 mg/dL to 125.6 ± 15.7 mg/dL (p=0.011). HDL cholesterol increased significantly from 52.1 ± 7.0 mg/dL to 58.5 ± 6.2 mg/dL (p=0.005). Pulse wave velocity improved from 8.5 ± 1.3 m/s to 7.5 ± 1.0 m/s (p=0.009), suggesting enhanced arterial flexibility. Conclusion: Ginger tea demonstrated significant antihypertensive and lipid-lowering effects, supporting its role as a natural adjunct to hypertension management. Its high antioxidant capacity contributes to cardiovascular benefits, making it a promising dietary supplement alongside standard pharmacotherapy. Further research is warranted to explore its long-term efficacy and broader clinical applications.