Epidemiological evidence and clinical trials of dietary calcium's effect on blood pressure.
The intervention trials intended to assess prospectively the efficacy of increasing calcium intake to lower blood pressure have in general been inconclusive in their results. If, however, they are evaluated in terms of what had been suggested by the epidemiological surveys as to the conditions that would have to be met, then a more consistent pattern emerges. When one requires a combination of either an adequate sample size with frequent enough blood pressure determinations carried out in a population projected to be sensitive to this life-style (diet) intervention, then the results are remarkably consistent. Excluding the trials of short duration and/or limited blood pressure determinations plus those carried out in young females, a consistent benefit from increasing calcium intake for reducing arterial pressure is apparent in both normotensive and hypertensive males and females.
McCarron
D A
DA
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
D002136:Calcium, Dietary