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Studies in Humans

Higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with having hypertension: is low salt intake a mediating factor?

, , , , , & show all
Pages 235-244 | Received 09 Jun 2017, Accepted 02 Jul 2017, Published online: 14 Jul 2017
 

Abstract

Blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for population health worldwide and a preventable disease through lifestyle modification. The aim of this study was to assess the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and occurrence of hypertension in a Mediterranean cohort. Demographic and dietary data of 1937 adults were collected in 2014–2015 from the general population of Catania, Sicily (Italy). Food frequency questionnaires and a MD adherence score were used to assess exposure variables. Higher adherence to the MD was inversely associated with hypertension. However, this association was no more significant after adjustment for sodium and potassium intake. These results suggest that salt may exert a mediating effect of high adherence to the MD towards hypertension.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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