RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIETARY NUTRIENTS IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND CAUCASIAN FEMALES

Abstract

343 Incidence of hypertension in African-Americans (AA) is nearly double that in Caucasians (CAU). The effect of dietary nutrients on blood pressure (BP) in either/both races is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between BP and dietary nutrients in normotensive, middle-aged AA and CAU females. Resting systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured in 15 AA females (38.9 yr.; wt. 71.2 kg, 37.5%fat) and in 21 CAU females (42 yr.; wt. 62.0 kg; 31%fat). Three-day diet records were used to determine daily nutrient intakes. T-tests were used to determine differences in variables between the races. Pearson correlations were used to determine the relationships between BP and dietary variables for all subjects and within races. BP measures did not statistically differ between the races, however SBP and MAP were physiologically higher (≥ 5 mmHG) in the AA females. Nutrient intakes did not differ between the races except for K+ and Ca++ which were higher (p<0.05) in the Caucasians. SBP, DBP and MAP were positiviely correlated (r≥0.45; p≤0.05) with fat(g),%dietary fat and negatively correlated (r≤-0.5;p≤0.02) with%CHO in the CAU females and similarly in all 36 subjects. However, no such correlations were observed in the AA females. These data indicate that the relationship between BP and intakes of fat and CHO differ between normotensive AA and CAU females. Thus, future research should consider race as a factor in designing dietary interventions to address BP.