There are lots more sources of protein than just meat
American Heart Association
Eating a balanced diet including protein from a greater variety of sources may help adults lower the risk of developing high blood pressure, according to new research published today in Hypertension, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
Nearly
half of the U.S. population has hypertension, or high blood pressure -- one of
the leading contributors to cardiovascular disease. When left untreated, high
blood pressure damages the circulatory system and is a significant contributing
factor to heart attack, stroke and other health conditions.
"Nutrition may be an easily accessible and effective measure to fight against hypertension. Along with fat and carbohydrates, protein is one of the three basic macronutrients," said study author Xianhui Qin, M.D., of the National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China.
There is a strong association between poor diet quality and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death from cardiovascular disease.
In its 2021
dietary guidance to improve cardiovascular health, the American Heart
Association advises people eat healthy sources of protein, mostly from plants and
may include seafood and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and, if desired,
lean cuts and unprocessed forms of meat or poultry. The American Heart
Association recommends eating one to two servings, or 5.5 ounces, of protein
daily.
The study authors analyzed health information for nearly 12,200 adults living in China who were part of at least 2 out of 7 rounds of the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1997 to 2015 (surveys taken every 2-4 years). Participants' initial survey was used as a baseline, while data from their last round was used as a follow-up for comparison.
Participants were an average age of 41 years, and 47%
were men. The survey measured dietary intake in three consecutive 24-hour
dietary recalls and a household food inventory. A trained interviewer collected
24-hour dietary information over 3 days in the same week during each round of
the survey.
Participants
were given a protein "variety score" based on the number of different
sources of protein eaten out of 8 reported: whole grains, refined grains,
processed red meat, unprocessed red meat, poultry, fish, egg and legumes. One
point was given for each source of protein, with a maximum variety score of 8.
The researchers then evaluated the association for new onset hypertension in
relation to the protein variety score.
New-onset
hypertension was defined as systolic (top number) blood pressure greater than
or equal to 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure greater
than or equal to 90 mm Hg, taking blood pressure-lowering medicine, or
self-reporting that a physician diagnosed high blood pressure since their last
survey visit. Average time to follow-up was 6 years.
The
analysis found:
·
More than 35% of the nearly 12,200
participants developed new-onset high hypertension during follow-up.
·
Compared to participants with the
lowest variety score for protein intake (less than 2), those with the highest
variety score (4 or higher) had a 66% lower risk of developing high blood
pressure.
·
For each of the 8 protein types,
there was a window of consumption amount where the risk of hypertension was
lower. Researchers described this as the appropriate level of consumption.
·
When total quantity of protein
intake was considered, the amount consumed was divided into five categories
(quintiles), from least to most intake. People who ate the least amount of
total protein and those who ate most protein had the highest risk for new onset
of hypertension.
"The
heart health message is that consuming a balanced diet with proteins from
various different sources, rather than focusing on a single source of dietary
protein, may help to prevent the development of high blood pressure," Qin
said.
A
limitation of the study is its observational design. Because researchers used
prior health information, they could not definitively prove protein intake of
any kind or quantity caused or prevented new-onset hypertension.
The study
was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Outstanding
Youths Development Scheme of Nanfang Hospital, Clinical Research Program of
Nanfang Hospital and Southern Medical University.