Low-Fat Dairy and Blood Pressure
Need an incentive to drink your milk? A new study suggests that consuming low-fat dairy products may lower blood pressure. One in three Americans has high blood pressure, which can cause heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. The research, published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension, was based on data collected from questionnaires filled out by 4,797 participants of the National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute’s Family Study. The participants were placed into four groups based on the amount of dairy products they consumed. Those eating the most dairy ate more than three servings per day, while those consuming the least averaged less than half a serving per day.
The systolic blood pressure of people who ate the most dairy was 2.6 points lower than those who ate the least. Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood-pressure reading, and is the measure taken as the heart contracts. Systolic blood pressure is seen as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. The higher the number, the greater the risk.
When the groups were divided into those who ate a diet low in saturated fat and those who ate a high-saturated-fat diet, the beneficial effects of high-dairy consumption was evident only in those eating a low-saturated fat diet. Their systolic pressure was 3.5 points lower than those who ate the fewest dairy products.
What is it about dairy products? Calcium could well be the key, but potassium and magnesium, which are also present in dairy products, are also associated with lowering blood pressure.
Low Fat Dairy Recipes
Photo © 2006 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
I find this study very unconvincing:
- The authors of the linked article don’t seem sure at all that dairy was the deciding factor.
- The difference in blood pressure between the low-dairy and high-dairy groups was small.
- From the article: “In addition, people who reported eating the least amount of dairy products may have other dietary habits that account for their higher blood pressure. In this study, participants in the low-dairy group reported eating more butter, hot dogs, burgers and eggs than those in the higher dairy group, he said.” This alone could invalidate the study.
- Vegans who consume no dairy have relatively low blood pressure.
- If the dairy industry had any hand in funding the study, all bets are off. Last year, as you may recall, they had a massive “Drink milk, lose weight” ad campaign that was based on one study of eleven people – funded by the industry. Meanwhile, other studies during the same period, with thousands of volunteers, showed that drinking milk has no effect or a detrimental effect on weight.
The researchers don’t believe calcium plays a role here, but they do seem to think something in dairy may account for the drop. The researchers noted that those whose intake of low-fat dairy was highest(and yes, presumably eating fewest hamburgers, hot dogs and other high-fat, high cholesterol foods) showed the biggest difference. “Among participants who ate below the average amount of saturated fat, those who also ate the most dairy had 54 percent lower odds of HBP [high blood pressure] than those who ate the least amount of dairy.”
But sure, one study doesn’t prove anything, hence the use of “may.”
Thanks for your comment.