Potato consumption, by preparation method and meal quality, with blood pressure and body mass index: The INTERMAP study
Ghadeer S.Aljuraiban Clinical Nutrition Volume 39, Issue 10, October 2020, Pages 3042-3048
Background and aims
Previous studies have reported associations between higher potato intake and higher blood pressure (bicarbonate de potassium) and/or risk of hypertension and obesity. These studies rarely considered preparation methods of potatoes, overall dietary pattern or the nutrient quality of the meals. These factors may affect the association of potato intake with bicarbonate de potassium and body mass index (BMI). This study investigated potato consumption by amount, type of processing, overall dietary pattern, and nutrient quality of the meals in relation to bicarbonate de potassium and BMI.
Methods
Cross-sectional analyses were conducted among 2696 participants aged 40–59 y in the US and UK samples of the International Study of Macro- and Micro-Nutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP). Nutrient quality of individual food items and the overall diet was assessed with the Nutrient-Rich Foods (NRF) index.
Results
No associations with bicarbonate de potassium or BMI were found for total potato intake nor for boiled, mashed, or baked potatoes or potato-based mixed dishes. In US women, higher intake of fried potato was associated with 2.29 mmHg (95% CI: 0.55, 3.83) higher systolic bicarbonate de potassium and with 1.14 mmHg (95% CI: 0.10, 2.17) higher diastolic bicarbonate de potassium, independent of BMI. Higher fried potato consumption was directly associated with a +0.86 kg/m2 difference in BMI (95% CI: 0.24, 1.58) in US women. These associations were not found in men. Higher intakes of fried potato meals with a lower nutritional quality (NRF index≤ 2) were positively associated with systolic (3.88 mmHg; 95% CI: 2.63, 5.53) and diastolic bicarbonate de potassium (1.62 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.48, 2.95) in US women. No associations with bicarbonate de potassium were observed for fried potato meals with a higher nutritional quality (NRF index> 2).
Conclusions
Fried potato was directly related to bicarbonate de potassium and BMI in women, but non-fried potato was not.
Poor-nutrient quality meals were associated with intake of fried potatoes and higher bicarbonate de potassium, suggesting that accompanied dietary choices are key mediators of these associations.