title: The effect of dairy consumption on blood pressure in mid-childhood: CAPS cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been postulated that a higher dairy consumption may affect blood pressure regulation. The aim of this study was to examine the association between dairy consumption and blood pressure in mid-childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (n = 335) were participants of a birth cohort at high risk of asthma with information on diet at 18 months and blood pressure at 8 years. Multivariate analyses were used to assess the association of dairy consumption (serves) and micronutrient intakes (mg). In a subgroup of children (n = 201), dietary intake was also measured at approximately 9 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children in the highest quintile of dairy consumption at 18 months had lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 8 years (2.5 mm Hg, P=0.046 and 1.9 mm Hg, P = 0.047, respectively) than those in the lowest quintiles. SBP was lowest among children in the highest quintiles of calcium, magnesium and potassium intakes. Significant negative linear trends were observed between SBP and intakes of dairy serves, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Furthermore, SBP and DBP were lowest in the group of children that consumed at least two dairy serves at both 18 months and the follow-up dietary data collection at 9 years, compared with all other children (SBP 98.7 vs 101.0 mm Hg, P = 0.07; and DBP 56.5 vs 59.3 mm Hg, P = 0.006, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are consistent with a protective effect of dairy consumption in childhood on blood pressure at age 8 years.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular Bioscience, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Rangan
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Flood
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Denyer
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ayer
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Celermajer
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D003971:Diastole; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017419:Potassium, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013599:Systole; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D014131:Trace Elements; D008274:Magnesium