Printed in Great Britain Nutrient Intakes and Blood Pressure in Normotensive Males

The association of dietary intakes with blood pressure levels was examined in a cross-sectional sample of 805 men aged 40-69 years free from clinical hypertension, coronary heart disease or cancer. After controlling for age, body habitus, and alcohol consumption, blood pressure levels were inversely associated with the intake of fruit (r = —0.09, p<0.05, for both systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure) and of fruit fibre (r =-0.07, p = 0.05 for SBP; r =-0.07, p = 0.07 for DBP). This association was independent of the intake of minerals and fibre from other sources. Calcium and magnesium intake were not significantly associated with blood pressure levels, but our results are statistically com-patible with the modest inverse associations previously reported. These cross-sectional data suggest that some compo-nent of fruit has a blood pressure lowering effect. International comparisons, ' and results from studies of migrants2 and religious groups,3-4 suggest that dif-ferences in diet and body habitus are important deter-minants of variability in blood pressure. While alcohol intake5'6 and obesity7-8 have con-sistently been shown to be associated with elevated blood pressure, the role of other dietary factors is con