Potato-heavy Diet Linked to Increased Risk of Hypertension

• High consumption of potato increases the risk of hypertension in adults.
• Potatoes have a high glycemic index that increases the blood sugar levels rapidly.
• Baked, boiled and mashed potatoes increase the risk of blood pressure in women but not in men.

High consumption of potato is linked to increased risk of hypertension, according to a US hospital-based study. Potatoes are good sources of potassium, a mineral that helps lower blood pressure; and high glycemic index, which increase the blood sugar levels rapidly that can put additional stress on the blood vessels, contributing to high blood pressure. Potatoes are one of the staple foods and the most commonly consumed vegetable in the United States. The association of high potato consumption with hypertension risk is a public health problem in the US because potatoes have recently been included in the government sponsored food programs.

The researchers, based at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, followed over 187,000 American adults for more than 20 years. The participants had enrolled in three prospective US cohort studies: The Nurses' Health Study, the Nurses' Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

The study participants were given a questionnaire to collect the information of hypertension diagnosed by a healthcare provider. The questionnaires were completed and returned every two years. Similar questionnaires were given to the participants to update the dietary intake of each food including potatoes for every four years. The questions asked about the potatoes were: baked, boiled or mashed potatoes (either one potato or one cup), French fries (one serving) and potato chips (one small bag).

The findings of the study showed that participants who reported the intake of four or more servings a week of baked, boiled or mashed potatoes, had an 11 percent higher risk of developing hypertension when compared with participants who consumed one or less than one serving a month.

High consumption of French fries was found to increase the risk of hypertension. However, high consumption of potato chips was not associated with an increased risk of hypertension. Participants who reported consumption of four or more servings a week of potato chips had a lower risk of developing hypertension.

Moderation is the Key

Potatoes should not be eliminated entirely from the diet as they are good sources of potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Instead of avoiding potatoes, reducing the frequency of consumption and controlling portion sizes might help lower the risk of hypertension. Cooking potatoes in a healthy way by changing the cooking method or adding protein or healthy oil can reduce the disease risk. Herbs can be included to potato dishes to reduce salt intake as well as enhance the flavor.

The authors of the study suggested that replacing one serving a day of potato dishes with one serving of a non-starchy vegetable such as broccoli and cauliflower can lower the risk of developing hypertension by 7 percent.

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Dr. Rebecca Reynolds, a nutritionist at the University of New South Wales, said, “I would recommend potato salad where you cook and then cool the potato, when you do that the structure of the carbohydrate changes so that it becomes resistant to digestion and therefore have a lower glycemic index.”

• The study participants self-reported a diagnosis of hypertension, and direct blood pressure measurements were not obtained.
• Data collection using a questionnaire is an imperfect way of tracking potato consumption for over a long period of time.
• Potatoes are often eaten with butter, cream and salt. High sodium intake could have also contributed to the risk of hypertension.
• The study focused only on the potato intake and failed to look at a person’s overall diet.

Reference:

Potato Intake and Incidence of Hypertension; Lea Borgi, Eric B Rimm, Walter C Willett, John P Forman; BMJ 2016;353:i2351

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Source-Medindia