Cardiovascular health

Yogurt benefits blood pressure in women

Yogurt benefits blood pressure in women

Women, who ate five or more servings of yogurt per week, had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure, compared to non-consumers, according to research presented at the AHA’s Epidemiology/Lifestyle 2016 Scientific Sessions. This effect seems absent in men.

The largest study of its kind

This study aimed to see the long-Term effects of yogurt in blood pressure. To do this, the researchers analyzed data from two large famous US studies: The Nurses’ Health Study cohorts (NHS and NHS II) – whose participants were mostly women between 25-55 years old. And the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) – whose participants where mostly men between 40-75 years old. During 18 to 30 years of follow-up, they documented 74,609 new cases of high blood pressure.

5 servings of yogurt per week

Results unveiled that women from the two NHS groups, who ate five or more servings of yogurt per week (compared with those consuming one serving per month), had about a 20 percent reduction in the risk of developing high blood pressure. Such a protection was not observed in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study in men. In this study, men had much lower intakes of yogurt than women. Therefore, the effects of regular yogurt consumption are probably weaker or underestimated.

A better blood pressure with DASH diet

The authors also evaluated whether the effects of consuming 5 or more servings of yogurt per week were influenced by healthy overall diet. The benefit was strongest among women and men with the highest DASH scores (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). In other words, those who ate also more fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans, other low-fat dairy and whole grains. Actually, people, who had a higher DASH score and who consumed yogurt five or more times per week, had a 31 percent lower risk of developing high blood pressure, compared with those who had the lowest yogurt intakes (one time per week) and the lowest DASH scores.

To learn more about this research, read the original article.

Source: American Heart Association Meeting Report Abstract P169

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