Abstract
Diet is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors for hypertension. In this study, we described the associations between dietary factors and blood pressure; and explored how weight status moderated these associations in a sample of New Zealand male adolescents. We collected demographics information, anthropometric, blood pressure, and dietary data from 108 male adolescents (15–17 years old). Mixed effects and logistic regression models were used to estimate relationships between dietary variables, blood pressure, and hypertension. Moderation effects of overweight status on the relationship between hypertension and diet were explored through forest plots. One-third (36%) of the sample was classified as hypertensive. Fruit intake was related to significantly lower systolic (−2.4 mmHg, p = 0.005) and diastolic blood pressure (−3.9 mmHg, p = 0.001). Vegetable and milk intake was related to significantly lower diastolic blood pressure (−1.4 mmHg, p = 0.047) and (−2.2 mmHg, p = 0.003), respectively. In overweight participants, greater vegetable and milk, and lower meat intake appeared to reduce the odds of hypertension. Certain dietary factors may have more prominent effects on blood pressure depending on weight status.
Highlights
Non-communicable diseases, in particular cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are the primary cause of premature deaths in the world [1]
Vegetable and milk intake were related to decreased odds of hypertension while meat intake was related to increased odds of hypertension among overweight participants and these relationships were not observed in normal weight participants
With overweight adolescents already at increased odds of hypertension, these results indicated that higher vegetable and milk intake with lower meat intake could further decrease their likelihood of developing hypertension
Summary
Non-communicable diseases, in particular cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are the primary cause of premature deaths in the world [1]. In New Zealand (NZ), about one in five adults (21.6%) had high BP in 2018/19 which had remained consistent across four survey years [3] It is well-documented that the prevalence of high BP increases steeply with age, it is not surprising that NZ youth aged 15–24 years had the lowest prevalence of high BP compared to all older ages [3]. Based on the New Zealand 2018/19 Health Survey, men were 1.3 times more prone to having high BP than women (24.1% vs 19.2%) [3]. This difference was even more pronounced in the NZ youth population where more males (7.9%) had high BP compared to females (3.4%) [3]. Similar patterns were observed in other populations around the world [5,6,7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
