[Fruits and vegetables intake in the SU.VI.MAX study and systolic blood pressure change]

In intervention studies (DASH), high fruits and vegetables intake lower blood pressure (BP). Less is known on long-term effects of fruits and vegetables intake on BP, especially in European population.

To study the relation between fruits and vegetables intake and BP change in the SU.VI.MAX study.

In the SU.VI.MAX study (1994-2002), BP was measured and information on medical treatment was collected during two clinical examination session in 1995-1996 and 2001-2002. Dietary information came from 24 h dietary records completed every two months, by each volunteer during the first two years of follow-up. We performed a transversal analysis of BP measured at the first clinical examination in 6 427 subjects aged 36-62 years. A longitudinal analysis including subjects without hypertension at baseline was performed on BP change between the two examination (n=2958).

At first examination, after adjusting for main confounding factors, subjects reporting high vegetables intake (last quintile) had a lower (-1.6 mmHg, p trend <0.01) systolic BP (SBP) than subjects reporting lower intake (first quintile). High fruits intake was slightly associated with lower SBP (1.1 mmHg, NS). At the end of the follow-up, the mean increase of SBP was of 9.5 mmHg. This increase was 2.2 mmHg lower (p < 0.003) in the last quintile of vegetables intake. No similar relation was observed with fruits intake.

These results suggest that vegetables intake may be associated with lower BP and a lower increase of BP over years. This last association may have implications for the prevention of hypertension which appears with aging.