Dietary Protein and Blood Pressure: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2010 Aug 17

PMID 20711407

Citations 63

Authors

Wieke Altorf-van der Kuil

Marielle F Engberink

Elizabeth J Brink

Marleen A van Baak

Stephan J L Bakker

Gerjan Navis

Pieter van t Veer

Johanna M Geleijnse

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Elevated blood pressure (BP), which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is highly prevalent worldwide. Recently, interest has grown in the role of dietary protein in human BP. We performed a systematic review of all published scientific literature on dietary protein, including protein from various sources, in relation to human BP.

Methodology/principal Findings: We performed a MEDLINE search and a manual search to identify English language studies on the association between protein and blood pressure, published before June 2010. A total of 46 papers met the inclusion criteria. Most observational studies showed no association or an inverse association between total dietary protein and BP or incident hypertension. Results of biomarker studies and randomized controlled trials indicated a beneficial effect of protein on BP. This beneficial effect may be mainly driven by plant protein, according to results in observational studies. Data on protein from specific sources (e.g. from fish, dairy, grain, soy, and nut) were scarce. There was some evidence that BP in people with elevated BP and/or older age could be more sensitive to dietary protein.

Conclusions/significance: In conclusion, evidence suggests a small beneficial effect of protein on BP, especially for plant protein. A blood pressure lowering effect of protein may have important public health implications. However, this warrants further investigation in randomized controlled trials. Furthermore, more data are needed on protein from specific sources in relation to BP, and on the protein-BP relation in population subgroups.

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