title: Effect of vegetable consumption on the association between peripheral leucocyte telomere length and hypertension: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Peripheral leucocyte telomere length has been suggested to be inversely associated with hypertension risk. Both telomere length and hypertension risk can be modified by certain dietary factors, such as fruit and vegetables. This study was to examine the potential effect of these dietary factors on the association between telomere length and hypertension risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  271 hypertensive patients and 455 normotensive controls aged 40-70 years and living in Yinzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral leucocyte relative telomere length (RTL) was measured using quantitative real-time PCR. Dietary intake was assessed by a brief semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between RTL and hypertension risk was analysed using logistic regression, and the modulatory effect of dietary intake on RTL-related hypertension risk was analysed using likelihood ratio tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among controls, longer age-adjusted RTL was associated with higher vegetable intake (p=0.01). Individuals with longer age-adjusted RTL (based on median value) were 30% less likely to have hypertension (OR=0.70, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.96; p=0.03). The observed RTL-hypertension relationship appeared to be modified by vegetable intake-longer RTL was significantly associated with lower hypertension risk only in those with greater vegetable consumption (OR=0.28, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.57; p<0.001), but not in those with lower vegetable intake (P-interaction=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Certain dietary factors might modify telomere-related hypertension risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Fuzhi
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0733-579X
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Jinquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xianhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Yinyin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Xianrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China School of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007962:Leukocytes; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016615:Telomere; D059506:Telomere Shortening; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: EPIDEMIOLOGY; NUTRITION & DIETETICS