Fruit, Vegetable Intake Protects Against High Blood Pressure in Young Adults

Consumption of vegetables, fruits, and other plant foods seems to reduce the risk of elevated blood pressure, whereas intake of meat raises the risk.

Several reports have shown similar associations, but few studies have specifically addressed this topic in young adults, lead author Dr. Lyn M. Steffen, from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and colleagues note.

In the present study, the researchers evaluated the 15-year incidence of elevated blood pressure (at least 130/85 mm Hg or use of an antihypertensive agent) in 4304 subjects, comprising roughly equal numbers of black and white men and women, between 18 and 30 years of age at baseline. Dietary assessments were conducted at enrollment and at 15 years into the study.

As plant food intake rose, the risk of elevated blood pressure fell, the report indicates. Relative to the lowest quintile of intake, the second through fifth quintiles of intake cut the risk from 27% to 36%, respectively.

Just the opposite trend was seen with meat intake, whereas dairy consumption did not seem to have a consistent effect on blood pressure, the investigators found.

"Our findings suggest that greater plant food intakes and lower meat intakes may prevent the development of elevated blood pressure when consumed by free-living black and white men and women as part of a habitual diet," the researchers conclude.

Am J Clin Nutr 2005;82:1169-1177.

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Arch Intern Med 2005;165:2486-2492.

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