Whole Grain Intake Could Reduce High Blood Pressure

According to researchers, increased consumption of whole grains could reduce the incidence of hypertension, or high blood pressure in men.

High blood pressure is defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), and expressed with two numbers, for example, 120/80 mm Hg. The first number (systolic pressure) is the pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood. The second number (diastolic pressure) is the pressure in large arteries when the heart is at rest between beats.

In the study, 31,684 participants, male health professionals ranging in age from 40 to 75 without known high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, or coronary heart disease were followed prospectively for 18 years for onset of high blood pressure.

A total of 9227 cases of high blood pressure were reported over the 18 years of follow-up. Whole-grain intake was inversely associated with risk of high blood pressure, with a 19% reduction of incidence of high blood pressure when comparing the highest to lowest consumption of whole grains.

Total bran was inversely associated with high blood pressure, with a 15% reduction of incidence of high blood pressure when comparing the highest to lowest consumption of total bran.

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References:
1. Flint AJ, Hu FB, Glynn RJ, Jensen MK, Franz M, Sampson L, Rimm EB. Whole grains and incident hypertension in men. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jul 1. PMID: 19571218.