Vegetarian diet could slash blood pressure: Meta-analysis

Vegetarian diet could slash blood pressure: Meta-analysis
Consuming a vegetarian diet may be associated with lower blood pressure, and as such could be used to reduce blood pressure and heart disease risk, say researchers.

The meta-analysis of seven clinical trials and 32 studies in which participants consumed a vegetarian diet, finds consumption of a vegetarian diet is associated with lower blood pressure (BP).

Led by Dr Yoko Yokoyama from the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Japan, the team behind the analysis pooled measurements on net differences in BP associated with eating a vegetarian diet from 311 clinical trial patients and more than 21,000 participants in observational studies.

Writing in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine​, Yokoyama and his team said that their results suggest such diets could be a useful nonpharmacologic means for reducing blood pressure.

"The meta-analysis indicates an overall difference in systolic BP of −4.8 mm Hg in controlled trials and −6.9 mm Hg in observational studies,"​ revealed the research team.

"These effect sizes are similar to those observed with commonly recommended lifestyle modifications, such as adoption of a low-sodium diet or a weight reduction of 5 kg, and are approximately half the magnitude of those observed with pharmaceutical therapy, such as administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors to individuals with hypertension,"​ they added.

Yokoyama and colleagues commented that further studies are now required to clarify which types of vegetarian diets are most strongly associated with lower blood pressure, adding that research into the implementation of such diets, either as public health initiatives aiming at prevention of hypertension or in clinical settings, "would also be of great potential value."

Source: JAMA Internal Medicine
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.14547
"Vegetarian Diets and Blood Pressure: A Meta-analysis"
Authors: Yoko Yokoyama, Kunihiro Nishimura, et al

Related topics Research Cardiovascular health

Related news

Related products

show more

Your Product Innovation Begins Here: Booth 4055

Your Product Innovation Begins Here: Booth 4055

Content provided by Effepharm Ltd | 22-Oct-2024 | Product Brochure

EffePharm will showcase innovative anti-aging solutions, featuring UthPeak™, world’s first self-GRAS approved NMNH, which boosts NAD+ levels by 10X. UthPeak™...

Sports Nutrition Formulations Re-imagined

Sports Nutrition Formulations Re-imagined

Content provided by Gencor | 30-Sep-2024 | White Paper

Gencor offers scientifically proven sports nutrition solutions intentionally designed for optimal performance and recovery for any level of athletic activity,...

Tackling Metabolic Health with HIMABERB® Berberine

Tackling Metabolic Health with HIMABERB® Berberine

Content provided by Pharma Base S.A. | 18-Sep-2024 | White Paper

Metabolic health is a prevalent and rapidly growing global challenge. In recent years, there has been mounting clinical evidence to support the use of...

UthPeak® NMNH Million Dollars Subsidy Program

UthPeak® NMNH Million Dollars Subsidy Program

Content provided by Effepharm Ltd | 29-Jul-2024 | Product Brochure

Introducing the UthPeak® Million Dollar Campaign! Unlock the full marketing potential of the groundbreaking reduced NMN, NMNH.

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars