The role of dietary protein in blood pressure regulation

Abstract

Increasing dietary protein intake or decreasing carbohydrate intake within reasonable limits may be beneficial for BP. The most and least beneficial protein sources still need to be determined.

Dietary Approaches to Prevent Hypertension

“…Several recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials have also supported a blood pressure-lowering effect of dietary protein intake, reaching similar conclusions [19, 21••, 22, 29•]. Increased protein intake significantly reduced blood pressure compared to carbohydrates, but there was no significant difference in blood pressure reduction between animal and vegetable protein sources.…”

“…Since the publication of the OmniHeart study, which showed a decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure when protein was substituted for dietary carbohydrate [11], additional large randomized controlled trials of protein supplementation have been published [28••, 29•], which strongly support the inverse relationship between dietary protein and blood pressure. In a 4-week parallel-group randomized clinical trial on the effects of protein supplementation on blood pressure, 60 g/ day of protein (30 % egg protein, 30 % milk protein, 20 % soy protein, 20 % pea protein) reduced systolic blood pressure by 4.9 mmHg ( p =0.005) and diastolic blood pressure by 2.7 mmHg ( p =0.05), as compared to 60 g/day of maltodextrin, among 99 overweight men and women with pre-hypertension or untreated stage I hypertension [29•].…”

“…In a 4-week parallel-group randomized clinical trial on the effects of protein supplementation on blood pressure, 60 g/ day of protein (30 % egg protein, 30 % milk protein, 20 % soy protein, 20 % pea protein) reduced systolic blood pressure by 4.9 mmHg ( p =0.005) and diastolic blood pressure by 2.7 mmHg ( p =0.05), as compared to 60 g/day of maltodextrin, among 99 overweight men and women with pre-hypertension or untreated stage I hypertension [29•]. In the Protein and Blood Pressure Study, a randomized, double-blind crossover trial among 352 adults with pre-hypertension or stage I hypertension, participants were assigned to consume 40 g/day soy protein supplement, milk protein supplement, or carbohydrate supplement for 8 weeks in a random order with 3-week wash-out periods in between [28••].…”

“…The exact mechanisms relating dietary protein intake to blood pressure remain unclear, although several have been proposed [29•, 31, 32]. Increases in dietary protein intake may impact plasma amino acid concentrations, which in turn may affect blood pressure regulation [32].…”

Study on Chronic Diseases Comprehensive Intervention in Baoji of Shaanxi Province in China

“…Among dietary factors, carbohydrates, sodium are risk factors for hypertension, and animal protein, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, potassium, animal iron [18], potassium [19] are protective factors for hypertension. In the reasonable range dietary protein intake increased or carbohydrate decreased may help control blood pressure [20]. Dietary fiber may play an important role in reducing glycated hemoglobin levels [21].…”