Dietary factors and blood pressure regulation

Abstract

This article reviews the potential effects of dietary constituents and manipulations on blood pressure. Dietary approaches with documented efficacy are discussed, as are the effects of other nutritional factors, which, after study, demonstrate no proven change on blood pressure. The effects of dietary ions (micronutrients) and of individual dietary macronutrients also are reviewed. The article concludes by examining the evidence for effects of weight loss, alcohol restriction, and vegetarian diets and offers for future research.