Potato Consumption Does Not Increase Blood Pressure or Incident Hypertension in 2 Cohorts of Spanish Adults

Abstract

Background: Potatoes have a high glycemic load but also antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is unclear what mechanisms are involved in relation to their effect on blood pressure (BP) and hypertension.Objectives: This study aimed to assess the association between potato consumption, BP changes, and the risk of hypertension in 2 Spanish populations.Methods: Separate analyses were performed in PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea), a multicenter nutrition intervention trial of adults aged 55-80 y, and the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) project, a prospective cohort made up of university graduates and educated adults with ages (means ± SDs) of 42.7 ± 13.3 y for men and 35.1 ± 10.7 y for women. In PREDIMED, generalized estimating equations adjusted for lifestyle and dietary characteristics were used to assess changes in BP across quintiles of total potato consumption during a 4-y follow-up. Controlled BP values (systolic BP <140 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg) during follow-up were also assessed. For SUN, multivariate-adjusted HRs for incident hypertension during a mean 6.7-y follow-up were calculated.Results: In PREDIMED, the total potato intake was 81.9 ± 40.6 g/d. No overall differences in systolic or diastolic BP changes were detected based on consumption of potatoes. For total potatoes, the mean difference in change between quintile 5 (highest intake) and quintile 1 (lowest intake) in systolic BP after multivariate adjustment was -0.90 mm Hg (95% CI: -2.56, 0.76 mm Hg; P-trend = 0.1) and for diastolic BP was -0.02 mm Hg (95% CI: -0.93, 0.89 mm Hg; P-trend = 0.8). In SUN, the total potato consumption was 52.7 ± 33.6 g/d, and no significant association between potato consumption and hypertension incidence was observed in the fully adjusted HR for total potato consumption (quintile 5 compared with quintile 1: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.80, 1.19; P-trend = 0.8).Conclusions: Potato consumption is not associated with changes over 4 y in blood pressure among older adults in Spain or with the risk of hypertension among Spanish adults. This trial was registered at www.controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN35739639.

Keywords: Mediterranean; PREDIMED study; SUN cohort; blood pressure; hypertension; potatoes.

Conflict of interest statement

Author disclosures: EAH, MAM-G, JS-S, DC, M Fitó, AG-R, FA, M Fiol, JL, LS-M, XP, MR-C, CR, MB, JVS, HS, CMR, and ET, no conflicts of interest. RE reports grants from Spanish Institute of Health “Carlos III” Patrimonio Comunal Olivarero, Spain; California Walnut Commission; Borges SA, Spain; FIS, Government of Spain; Fundacion Bosch i Gimpera, Spain, during the conduct of the study; nonfinancial support from Cerveza y Salud, Spain; nonfinancial support from FIVIN, Spain; nonfinancial support from Fundacion Dieta Mediterranea, Spain, nonfinancial support from Universidad Internacional de Catalunya, Spain; grants from Bicentury SA, Spain; grants from Grand Fountaine, Spain; grants from Novartis SA, Spain; personal fees from Brewers of Europe, Belgium; personal fees from Fundacional Cerveza y Salud, Spain; personal fees from FIVIN, Spain; personal fees from Instituto Cervantes, Alburquerque, NM; personal fees from Instituto Cervantes, Milan, Italy; personal fees from Lilly Laboratories; personal fees from Prodeca: Generalitate de Catalunya; personal fees from Wine and Culinary International International Forum; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA; and University of Columbia, NYC, outside the submitted work. ER reports grants, nonfinancial and other support from California Walnut Commission; grants, personal fees, nonfinancial and other support from Merck, Sharp & Dohme; grants, personal fees, nonfinancial and other support from Alexion; personal fees, nonfinancial and other support from Aegerion; grants and personal fees from Sanofi Aventis; grants, personal fees, nonfinancial and other support from Ferrer International; grants from Amgen; grants from Pfizer; and personal fees from Akcea, outside the submitted work. The funding sources had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

© 2017 American Society for Nutrition.