Association between dietary behavior and risk of hypertension among Japanese male workers

Dietary behavior can worsen or prevent hypertension. However, data on the association between dietary behavior and the risk of hypertension in Asians are limited. The aim of this study was to determine these associations in Japanese male workers. We conducted a prospective study of 30-71-year-old Japanese male workers in Osaka, Japan, between 2001 and 2011. The study subjects were 3486 normotensive males who were assessed for an average of 4.6 years using an annual survey. We defined hypertension by a systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg, a diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mm Hg and/or the use of antihypertensive medications. Dietary behavior questionnaires were included in the annual surveys. For each question on dietary behavior, we calculated the odds ratios (ORs) for the risk of hypertension using logistic regression models. We used subjects who consistently gave affirmative answers in the baseline and end-point surveys as a reference. The number of new cases of hypertension was 846 among 3486 subjects. Compared with subjects who eat meat frequently, subjects who did not eat meat frequently showed a higher risk of hypertension (OR=1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.59). Subjects who did not consume dairy products every day showed a higher risk of hypertension (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.13-1.71) compared with those who did. Meat and dairy product intake was associated with the prevention of hypertension among Japanese male workers.