Relationships between Dairy Consumption Patterns and Hypertension, Overweight, and Obesity Status

Ahmadreza Rasouli; Hamid Khederlou; Narges Milkarizi; Shahram Arsang-Jang; Houshang Bavandpour Karvane; Zahra Akbarzade; Pouria Tavakkolian; Loghman Sharifi

doi:10.18502/jthc.v19i1.15536

Ahmadreza Rasouli Nutrition Research Center, Department of Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Hamid Khederlou Department of Cardiology, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Narges Milkarizi Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Shahram Arsang-Jang Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Houshang Bavandpour Karvane Tehran Heart Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zahra Akbarzade Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Pouria Tavakkolian Student Research Centre, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Loghman Sharifi Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetic, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jthc.v19i1.15536

Keywords: Hypertension; Dairy products; Obesity; Overweight

Abstract

Background: Obesity is considered a widespread concern internationally. Few studies have investigated the relationships between dairy consumption and hypertension and obesity. Therefore, this study examined the above concern in students.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 292 male students (18–30 y) living in the dormitories of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Students were selected via the multistage stratified random sampling method. Demographic information, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure (BP) readings, and a semi-quantitative validated questionnaire assessing dairy consumption (including a 24-hour dietary record covering 2 typical days and a holiday) were collected. After all the questionnaires were reviewed, they were coded and analyzed with Nutritionist IV software.

Results: The average age of the subjects was 22.36 years. The mean±SD values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist circumference-to-standing height ratio were 22.68±2.58 kg/m², 80.95±7.81 cm, 0.85±0.04, and 0.46±0.04 among the studied population, respectively. The mean±SD values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 111.84±10 mm Hg and 70.99±8 mm Hg, respectively. Milk consumption was associated with a low waist circumference (95% credible interval, 1.005 to 4.580; P=0.046). The odds of hypertension (defined as BP>120/90 mm Hg) were 2.686 times higher in the overweight and obese group than in the normal BMI group. The risk of hypertension was 1.045 times higher for individuals with abdominal obesity than for those who did not consume dairy products.

Conclusion: Milk consumption was associated with a low waist circumference. The correlations between systolic blood pressure and anthropometric factors were statistically significant. BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio were positively associated with systolic blood pressure.