Dietary Calcium Intake in Relation to New-Onset Hypertension Among Chinese Adults: A Comparative Prospective Cohort...

Hypertension is a leading global health concern, with diet being a key modifiable risk factor. Although calcium intake influences blood pressure regulation, evidence remains inconclusive. Emerging findings suggest that climate-related factors may modulate calcium metabolism and hypertension risk.

This study examined the association between dietary calcium intake and new-onset hypertension using data from 8591 adults without hypertension at baseline in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1997-2011), with stratified analyses by key demographic factors and climate type.

Demographic characteristics were assessed using chi-square tests and general linear models. Multivariate Cox regression models evaluated the association between dietary calcium intake quintiles and hypertension risk. Restricted cubic spline models were used to analyze dose-response relationships.

A J-shaped relationship (nonlinear P < 0.05) was observed between calcium intake and new-onset hypertension, with the lowest risk at 550.588-646.353 mg/d (hazard ratio: 0.827; 95% confidence interval: 0.734, 0.933; P = 0.002). Age-stratified analyses showed distinct patterns: young adults (18-35 y) had lower risk at moderate intake but higher risks at extremes (nonlinear P < 0.001), whereas elderly (≥65 y) demonstrated increasing risk with higher intake (nonlinear P = 0.042). And climate-specific trends emerged: low calcium intake inversely correlated with hypertension in temperate monsoon regions, whereas high intake showed positive associations in subtropical monsoon climates.

This study revealed a J-shaped association between dietary calcium intake and hypertension risk among Chinese adults, with climate- and age-related heterogeneity, underscoring the importance of precision nutrition in public health guidelines.