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.