Natural progesterone and antihypertensive action

Key Findings

• Twelve people enrolled (eight men, four postmenopausal women). Two men withdrew, leaving six men and four women. Nine of the twelve had stopped antihypertensive drugs four weeks before entry.
• Supine (lying) blood pressure was significantly lower with all three progesterone dose steps than before treatment. Placebo readings at all three doses did not differ significantly from readings before treatment.
• Supine pressure was lower on progesterone than on placebo at each dose step. Only supine diastolic pressure at the lowest step and mean arterial pressure at the middle step reached significance.
• At the highest dose step, erect (standing) diastolic and mean arterial pressures were significantly lower on progesterone than on placebo. Pulse rate and weight showed no significant change.
• Two men felt slightly light headed roughly an hour after taking the two higher doses.