ISMNT NEWS: Disease Prevention by Exploring Molecular Mechanisms Linked to Nutrition

ISMNT News #17 relates to the frequently discussed action of dietary fiber intake. The study on the development of high blood pressure in children suggests that the commonly observed rise in blood pressure could be retarded (prevented??) by reducing primarily the intake of fat (saturated as well as unsaturated) and by increasing the dietary fiber intake. An increased fiber intake has thus another unsuspected beneficial action.

The key reference is by:

Simons-Morton DG et al.

NUTRIENT INTAKE AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE DIETARY INTERVENTION STUDY IN CHILDREN

from

Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Heart, Lung, and

Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892-7936, USA.

Email simonsd@gwgate.nhlbi.nlh.gov

in

Hypertension 1997 Apr;29(4):930-936

Delineating the role that diet plays in blood pressure levels in children is important for guiding dietary recommendations for the prevention of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between dietary nutrients and blood pressure in children.

Data were analyzed from 662 participants in the Dietary Intervention Study in Children who had elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and were aged 8 to 11 years at baseline. Three 24-hour dietary recalls, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, height, and weight were obtained at baseline, 1 year, and 3 years. Nutrients analyzed were the micronutrients calcium, magnesium, and potassium; the macronutrients protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and monounsaturated fat; dietary cholesterol; and total dietary fiber. Baseline and 3-year longitudinal relationships were examined through multivariate models on diastolic and systolic pressures separately, controlling for height, weight, sex, and total caloric intake. The following associations were found in longitudinal analyses: analyzing each nutrient separately,

for systolic pressure, inverse associations with calcium (P < .05); magnesium, potassium, and protein (all P < .01); and fiber (P < .05), and direct associations with total fat and monounsaturated fat (both P < .05); for diastolic pressure, inverse associations with calcium (P < .01); magnesium and potassium (both P < .05), protein (P < .01); and carbohydrates and fiber (both P < .05), and direct associations with polyunsaturated fat (P < .01) and monounsaturated fat (P < .05).

Analyzing all nutrients simultaneously, for systolic pressure, direct association with total fat (P < .01); for diastolic pressure, inverse associations with calcium (P < .01) and fiber (P < .05), and direct association with total and monounsaturated fats (both P < .05). Results from this sample of children with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol indicate that dietary calcium, fiber, and fat may be important determinants of blood pressure level in children.