Potassium, calcium, alcohol intake and blood pressure: the Zutphen Study

Abstract

In 1960, 1965, and 1970 information about the usual intake of foods and beverages was collected by the cross-check dietary history method, among middle-aged men in the town of Zutphen, the Netherlands. Blood pressures were also taken in these years. Potassium intake was significantly inversely related to systolic blood pressure in 1970. A significant inverse relation between calcium intake and blood pressure was found in 1965 and 1970. Changes in potassium and calcium intake during 5 and 10 years of follow-up were not related to changes in blood pressure. In univariate analyses, alcohol intake was significantly positively related to systolic and diastolic blood pressure in all three years. After multivariate analyses this relation persisted for systolic blood pressure in 1960 and for systolic and diastolic blood pressure in 1965. Changes in alcohol intake during 5 years of follow-up were positively related to changes in systolic blood pressure.