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

Delineating the role that diet plays in blood pressure levels in child ren is important for guiding dietary recommendations for the preventio n of hypertension. The purpose of this study was to investigate relati onships 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, sy stolic pressure, diastolic pressure, height, and weight were obtained at baseline, 1 year, and 3 years. Nutrients analyzed were the micronut rients calcium, magnesium, and potassium; the macronutrients protein, carbohydrates, total fat, saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, and mono unsaturated fat; dietary cholesterol; and total dietary fiber. Baselin e and 3-year longitudinal relationships were examined through multivar iate models on diastolic and systolic pressures separately, controllin g for height, weight, sex, and total caloric intake. The following ass ociations 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 (b oth P<.05); for diastolic pressure, inverse associations with calcium (P<.01); magnesium and potassium (both P<.05); protein (P<.01); and ca rbohydrates and fiber (both P<.05), and direct associations with polyu nsaturated fat (P<.01) and monounsaturated fat (P<.05). Analyzing all nutrients simultaneously, for systolic pressure, direct association wi th total fat (P<.01); for diastolic pressure, inverse associations wit h calcium (P<.01) and fiber (P<.05), and direct association with total and monounsaturated fats (both P<.05). Results from this sample of ch ildren with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol indicate that dietary calcium, fiber, and fat may be important determinants of bloo d pressure level in children.