Effects of milk and carbonated beverage consumption on ambulatory blood pressure and cardiovascular responses to stress: a pilot study

Abstract

Bioactive components of milk (Ca, K, Mg, a‐lactalbumin) reduce blood pressure (BP) and reactivity to stress. This study was undertaken to similarly explore effects of milk consumption versus a common alternative, soda. In a randomized crossover, 10 prehypertensive men consumed either 3 servings of milk or noncaffeinated regular soda daily for 2 wk with their customary diet. Free‐living 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) was recorded. In an exercise physiology laboratory, automated BP was measured at baseline; after 2‐min isometric handgrip pre‐ and post‐prandial, and post‐caffeine; and during submaximal cycle ergometry. Individual mean 24‐h ABPs clustered into 2 response categories, with participants displaying lower systolic ABP with milk (MC, n=4) or with soda (SC, n=3) consumption, and a non‐responding category (n=3). Applying the 24‐h ABP categorization, data collected in response to dynamic cycle ergometry substantially reflected the bimodal response to beverage. Isometric handgrip exercise elicited greater BP differences between beverages and in reactivity in MC after fasting; post‐prandial responses and reactivity were reversed.ConclusionResults suggest heterogeneous BP response to beverage in pre‐hypertensive men.Supported by Washington Dairy Products Commission