Diet and blood pressure: differences among whites, blacks and Hispanics in New York City 2010.

OBJECTIVES: Our study examined: 1) racial/ethnic differences in sodium and potassium intake; and 2) racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between dietary intake and blood pressure.

DESIGN & METHODS: Data were collected in New York City in 2010, and included a telephone health survey, a 24-hour urine collection and an in-home clinical exam. Linear regression was used to examine the association of sodium and potassium intakes with blood pressure separately by race/ethnicity, age and sex among 1568 participants.

RESULTS: The results indicate large differences by population subgroup in: 1) nutrient intake, and 2) the relationship between sodium and potassium intake and blood pressure. Black and Hispanic males aged < or = 50 consume considerably more sodium and less potassium than their White counterparts. The regression results indicate a strong association between diet and blood pressure among Blacks and Hispanics only.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on our assessment of the association of sodium and potassium intakes and blood pressure measurements, we find that young Black and Hispanic males aged < or = 50 years have the poorest diet quality and may be the most at risk for developing diet-related hypertension.