Diuretic Effects of Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa) – Stevia (Stevia Rebaudiana) Tea Compared with Hydrochlorothiazide in Diabetic Patients with Hypertension

Abstract

Objective: To compare diuretic effects of Roselle-Stevia (R-S) tea withhydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in diabetic patients with hypertension. Method:This study was a prospective randomized, open label, crossover study.Twenty two diabetic patients with hypertension were randomly assignedwith concealed allocation to receive either R-S tea (each sachet 2/0.2 g) 2sachets daily or HCTZ 25 mg once daily for 30 days. Then a two-waycrossover with a 7-day washout period was used. Serum and 24-hour urinespecimens were collected at the beginning and the end of each 30 daystreatment period. Diuretic effects were assessed from urinary sodiumexcretion and urinary volume. Results: After 30-day treatment periods, themean changes from baseline on urinary sodium excretion (-5.4±92.5 vs.-21.3±100.2 mmol/day, n=22) and urinary volume (-101.4±684.8 vs -40.5±806.4 mL, n=22) were not significantly difference between R-S teaand HCTZ respectively. HCTZ significantly increased serum glucose anddecreased serum potassium and chloride from baseline (p<0.05) but nosignificantly changed after R-S drinking. Nobody dropped out because ofadverse events. Conclusion: There was no statistically significantdifference in diuretic effects between R-S tea and HCTZ in hypertensivediabetic patients. Our result do not support diuretic effects from bothtreatments after 30 days.Keywords: Roselle, Stevia, diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, hypertension,diabetes