Blood pressure measures the force of circulating blood against artery walls as the heart contracts and rests. Contraction, or systolic, pressure is the first number in the measurement, and resting, or diastolic, pressure is the second. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. Participants started the study with 143 to 155/90 to 99 mmHg.
After two weeks, in the Captopril group, doctors doubled the dosage in those who had not yet responded significantly. All participants continued for six more weeks.
After eight weeks, both the olive leaf and Captopril groups saw similar, significant decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Also, triglyceride—total fat—levels fell significantly in the olive leaf group, but not for the Captopril group.