the effectiveness of black garlic in blood pressure regulation among the elderly

Hypertension is a chronic disease frequently observed in the elderly. managing blood pressure in the elderly is particularly challenging due to age-related physiological changes and the potential side effects of conventional antihypertensive medications. preventive measures for hypertension can be addressed through non-pharmacological approaches, one of which involves the use of black garlic. this study aims to assess the impact of black garlic on blood pressure regulation among the elderly. the research methodology employed is a quasi-experimental design featuring a one-group pre-test and post-test format. the study population consisted of elderly individuals diagnosed with grade 1 hypertension (systolic blood pressure ranging from 140 to 159 mmhg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 90 and 99 mmhg). a sample of 48 elderly participants was selected using a purposive sampling method. data collection was conducted through direct observation of participants, with blood pressure measurements recorded before and after the administration of black garlic on an observation sheet. the intervention lasted for two consecutive weeks, during which two cloves of black garlic (6 grams per clove) were administered post-meals, both in the morning and evening. the research data were analyzed utilizing a wilcoxon signed-rank test. prior to the intervention, participants had a mean systolic value of 150.75 mmhg and a mean diastolic value of 93.43 mmhg. after the intervention, these levels declined markedly to 131.68 mmhg for systolic and 84.62 mmhg for diastolic, with a p-value< 0.001, indicating a substantial improvement. therefore, black garlic may serve as an alternative method for reducing blood pressure in the elderly with grade 1 hypertension.