Association between dairy product intake and high blood pressure in Chilean adults

Hypertension is a major risk for cardiovascular disease. Several studies have connected dairy consumption with lower blood pressure (BP). However, these have not considered the Latin American population. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between consumption of full-fat or low fat/fat free dairy products and high blood pressure in Chilean adults.

Cross-sectional study containing data from 3,807 adults between 20 and 98 years old from the National Health Survey (NHS) of Chile 2016-2017. Information on lifestyle, food frequency, and socio-demographics was collected using standardized questionnaires. Trained fieldworkers took anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. The frequency of consumption data included seven ad-hoc questions on habitual eating and frequency options, based on the Mediterranean diet (fish products, fruit and vegetable, and dairy products) and its protective effect on cardiovascular diseases. The selection of foods was supported by expert opinion.

Of the 3,807 adults, 37% were male and 63% were female. Sex, education level, frequency of dairy products and fish, smoking, and sport or physical activity had a direct relationship with consumption of dairy products (P < 0.05). Consumption of low fat/fat free dairy products was protectively associated with high blood pressure in the unadjusted model (OR: 0.76, CI 95% 0.64-0.91). However, after adjustment for confounding variables (education level modifies the effect 10.2%), this association was attenuated (OR: 0.88; CI 95% 0.71-1.08).

We found limited evidence that the type of dairy products consumed is associated with high blood pressure in the Chilean population.