One in three American adults has high blood pressure, a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) indicated that there is moderate evidence for an association between the consumption of dairy foods and lower blood pressure in adults. This review, which expanded on previous evidence used to develop the DGAs, found that the preponderance of published literature indicates a strong likelihood that dairy consumption beneficially affects blood pressure.
The authors examined the results of 12 recent publications — which included seven clinical trials and one review paper published from 2009-2012 — together with earlier evidence linking dairy consumption and blood pressure. After reviewing the evidence as a whole, they concluded that consumption of dairy foods may help adults maintain a healthy blood pressure, confirming and extending the conclusions of the DGAs.
Carefully designed clinical trials are needed to examine blood pressure outcomes as well as the ability of dairy foods to affect the vascular system. The results of this review support the goals of the Dairy Research Institute Dairy and Blood Pressure research platform.
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