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Importance of salt intake and fruit and vegetable consumption by children and young people for the long-term blood pressure development

Project

Food and consumer protection

This project contributes to the research aim 'Food and consumer protection'. Which funding institutions are active for this aim? What are the sub-aims? Take a look:
Food and consumer protection


Project code: 2811HS007
Contract period: 01.10.2011 - 30.09.2013
Budget: 108,585 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research

Regarding the increasing prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents and the pronounced blood pressure tracking from childhood onward, it is of special interest to characterize the supposed strongest nutritional modifiers of blood pressure during growth in detail. Salt intake is considered as one of the most important dietary factors that increases blood pressure. However, the counterbalancing influence of higher fruit & vegetable (F&V) intakes may even be greater. Unfortunately, especially in children and adolescents, no specific research data is available, on whether a F&V-rich diet, can induce a stronger decrease in blood pressure than a diet with an exclusive salt reduction. The present project therefore aims to characterize the long term concomitant influences of salt and F&V intakes on the development of blood pressure during childhood and adolescence. For this, the estimated effect strengths of them have to be mutually adjusted and also controlled for relevant potential confounders. Another aim is to examine, whether a higher salt intake and/or a lower F&V intake during puberty (presenting a critical period of eating habits readjustments) may predict an increased blood pressure level in young adulthood. Analyses will base on data from ca. 450 participants of the DONALD Study, for whom repeated measurements of blood pressure, 24-h urine collections, and 3-d weighed dietary records are available. Data on diastolic, systolic, and mean blood pressure will be obtained from mercury sphygmomanometer measurements using the auscultatory method. Salt intake will be exclusively estimated through urinary sodium and chloride excretion measurements in 24-h urine samples. F&V intakes will not only be directly calculated according to the dietary records, but also estimated through urine biomarker examinations. The results of this project are expected to contribute significantly to future preventive dietary recommendations in Germany.

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Subjects

Framework programme

BMEL Frameworkprogramme 2008

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