Nutritional correlates of blood pressure in elderly Chinese

Dietary intakes of various nutrients, urinary electrolyte levels from a casual urine sample, and BP were determined in 425 active men and women aged 60 and above (mean age 70.6 years) living in the community. After exclusion of subjects taking Western or Chinese medicines, correlations were seen between body mass index and diastolic blood pressure (DBP, r = 0.15, P less than 0.01), between calcium intake and systolic blood pressure (SBP, r = 0.14, P less than 0.02) and retinol intake and SBP (r = -0.14, P less than 0.03). There was no significant correlation between BP and casual urinary Na/Cr, K/Cr, Na/K or Ca/Cr ratios. Fewer correlates were seen compared to younger age groups. These results suggest that dietary modification of BP based on studies in Caucasian communities of all ages may not apply to elderly Chinese populations.