Nutrition News

• Incidence of Lactose Intolerance Significantly Lower than Previously Believed
• Bone Up On Dairy to Reduce Risk of Osteoporosis
• New American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Statement
• New Science Review Gives More Reasons to Love Dairy Foods
• Experts Call to Action on Nutrient-Rich Foods
• Lactose Intolerance Doesn’t Mean Dairy Avoidance
• Maximizing the Messages: Helping Moms and Kids Make Healthier Food Choices
• Get Rich Quick with Nutrient Rich Foods
• New Study Shows Children Benefit from Drinking Flavored Milk
• Pediatricians Address Role of Dairy Foods in Children’s Diets
• Clearing up Confusion about Conventional, rbST-Free and Organic Milk
• Calcium-Rich Dairy Foods May Help Reduce Stroke Risk
• Research Shows Young, Active Men Can Recharge With Fat-Free Milk
• Flavored Milk Consumption Linked to Improved Body Composition in Kids, Taller Boys
• Want a Great Smile? Brush, Floss…Eat Yogurt
• DASH to Dairy to Lower Blood Pressure
• New Online Menu Planner Helps Consumers Build Better Diets
• Calcium + Protein = Strong Bones
• Will Drinking Milk Help Girls Breathe Easier?
• Calcium and Beyond: Dairy Foods, Fruits and Vegetables May Help with Bone Fractures and Hypertension
• American Academy of Pediatrics Revised Statement on Pediatric Allergies is Good News for Moms Who Love Milk
• MyPyramid Plan for Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Calcium from Food May Benefit Bones More Than Supplements
• Adolescents with Dairy-Free Diets Fall Short On Calcium
• American Heart Association Calls for Women to Establish Healthy Lifestyle and Eating Habits
• American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Dairy for Children with Lactose Intolerance
• Weighty Consequences for Kids Who Skimp on Dairy
• Dairy Intake May Benefit Adolescent Hearts
• Low Energy Density = High Diet Quality
• Think Outside the ‘Bones’: Dairy Intake and African American Health
• American Heart Association Recommendations Call for Americans to Establish Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Habits

Nutrition News

DASH to Dairy to Lower Blood Pressure

New research adds to the body of evidence that dairy foods may indeed affect blood pressure and overall heart health. Findings from the Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial to Prevent Heart Disease (OmniHeart) suggest that consumers have several options when it comes to eating a heart-healthy diet.

Study participants with higher than normal blood pressure followed three different diets during the course of the study: 1) a carbohydrate-rich diet, 2) a higher protein diet, and 3) a higher unsaturated fat diet. Each of the three diets met parameters of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet previously proven as effective in lowering blood pressure, and met the major recommendations of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing lowfat dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. All three dietary patterns led to reduced blood pressure, improved cholesterol levels and reduced estimated coronary heart disease risk.

A second study, published in Hypertension, analyzed diet supplement records from 4,680 men and women (ages 40 to 59) from Japan, China, UK and U.S. Results showed that dietary phosphorus, a nutrient found in dairy and other foods, was associated with reduced blood pressure. In addition to phosphorus, dietary calcium and magnesium were also shown to lower blood pressure significantly.

Both studies suggest that dairy foods and the nutrients they contain can be part of a heart-healthy diet.  

Swain J, et al. Characteristics of the diet patterns tested in the Optimal Micronutrient Intake Trial to Prevent Heart Disease (OmniHeart): options for a heart-healthy diet. Journal of the American Dietetic Association.2008;108:257-265.

Elliott P, et al. Dietary phosphorus and blood pressure: international study of macro- and micro-nutrients and blood pressure. Hypertension. 2008;51:669-675.

Scientific synopsis provided by Sarah Hess, MS, RD, LDN, New England Dairy & Food Council