Whey products, milk minerals and dairy calcium - InnovateWithDairy ...

APPLICATIONS MONOGRAPH ■ CALCIUMHYPERTENSIONAs many as 50 million Americans and manymillions in other countries have high bloodpressure (hypertension), which increasesthe risk of heart disease, stroke, andkidney disease.In the U.S. the Joint National Committeeon Direction, Evaluation and Treatmentof High Blood Pressure recommendsconsuming adequate amounts of calcium(as well as potassium and magnesium) tohelp reduce blood pressure. A review of 25epidemiological studies investigating therelationship between the intake of calciumor calcium-rich foods and blood pressurefound that the majority of these studiessupported an inverse relationship. Thebeneficial effect of calcium on bloodpressure provides yet another reason toensure adequate intake of calcium-richfoods as part of a healthy diet. An advantageof milk minerals (as an ingredient forenrichment) over other calcium sources,is that this ingredient provides highlybioavailable calcium in balance with otherminerals to optimize health benefits.A diet containing an adequate amountof calcium is recommended as anonpharmacological lifestyle modificationfor the prevention and treatment of highblood pressure. Many studies havedemonstrated that calcium reducesthe risk of hypertension or high bloodpressure, especially in certain subgroupsof the population.Since the early 1980s, scientific research hasshown that calcium plays an important rolein regulating blood pressure. Findings fromnumerous population studies, experimentalanimal investigations, and clinical trialsindicate that increasing calcium intakelowers blood pressure or reduces the riskof hypertension. In population studies,people with high blood pressure havelower intakes of calcium than people withnormal blood pressure, and vice versa.In humans and experimental animalswith hypertension, abnormalities incalcium metabolism have been detected.In clinical trials of calcium supplementation,blood pressure is reduced in manyindividuals, particularly those at highrisk of hypertension and/or who haveinadequate calcium intakes.Although increased calcium intake generallylowers blood pressure more in adults thanin children, a blood-pressure-lowering effectof calcium has been demonstrated in someyoung children, especially those whosecalcium intakes are initially low. In teens,differences in calcium intake have beenobserved between those with high-normaland low-normal blood pressure (82).Because as many as one half of childrenwith high blood pressure may havehypertension as adults’ (83), childrenshould consume an adequate intakeof calcium.Coronary heart disease (CHD) is themost common and serious form ofcardiovascular disease in the United States.Cigarette smoking, high blood pressure(hypertension), and elevated bloodcholesterol levels are the major risk factorsfor this disease. Calcium may protectagainst CHD by its effect on two of theserisk factors: hypertension and blood lipidlevels. In patients with mild to moderatehypercholesterolemia, an increased calciumintake lowers total and LDL (low-densitylipoprotein) blood cholesterol levels.Calcium alone is not responsible for milk’sprotective effect against stroke. Totalcalcium intake or intake of calcium fromnondairy sources did not have thesame protective effect as milk.Taking the Pressure Off:The Calcium ConnectionSome studies suggest that cutting backon salt lowers the risk of high bloodpressure. However, new researchshows that increasing calciumconsumption to at least recommendedlevels (1,000mg/day for adults 19-50and1,200mg/day for adults 51 andolder) is also associated with a small,but important, reduction in bloodpressure. This effect is expected to beeven greater in people at high risk forboth hypertension and low calciumintakes including African Americansand mature adults (ages 51+).Calcium has two “partners” that helpcurb high blood pressure — potassiumand magnesium. They pitch in to helpkeep blood pressure levels in check.Luckily, milk products and ingredientssuch as milk minerals contain ampleamounts of all three.4eJ.4