High protein diets keep blood pressure in check

A new study has observed that people who consume high protein diets are less likely to have high blood pressure (HBP).

The study conducted by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), found that participants consuming the highest amount of protein (an average of 100 g protein/day) had a 40 percent lower risk of having high blood pressure compared to the lowest intake level.

The researchers analyzed the protein intakes of healthy participants from the Framingham Offspring Study and followed them for development of high blood pressure over an 11-year period.

Researchers found that adults who consumed more protein, whether from animal or plant sources, had statistically significantly lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure levels after four years of follow-up.

Corresponding author Lynn Moore, associate professor of medicine at BUSM, said that these results provided no evidence to suggest that individuals concerned about the development of HBP should avoid dietary protein and rather, protein intake may play a role in the long-term prevention of HB.

Moore added that this growing body of research on the vascular benefits of protein, including this study, suggested that they needed to revisit optimal protein intake for optimal heart health.

The study is published in the American Journal of Hypertension.