CLINICAL CARDIOLOGYORIGINAL ARTICLE

Cardiology Journal
2016, Vol. 23, No. 5, 491–496
DOI: 10.5603/CJ.a2016.0049
Copyright © 2016 Via Medica
ISSN 1897–5593

Nutrition and lifestyle in patients
pharmacologically treated due to hypertension
Mirosław Jarosz1, Diana Wolańska2, Hanna Stolińska1,
Wioleta Respondek1, Longina Kłosiewicz-Latoszek2
1

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics with Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology,
National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland
2
Department of Prevention of Diet-related Diseases with Outpatient Clinic of Metabolic Diseases,
National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract
Background: Proper nutrition and physical activity are together an important way of non-pharmacological treatment of arterial hypertension. The aim of the study was to answer thequestion whether patients with hypertension use non-pharmacological methods of hypertension
treatment.
Methods: The study included a group of 280 patients aged 18–85, suffering from hypertension. In the study, 10 nutritional and non-nutritional factors affecting the treatment of hypertension were analyzed. Data regarding the diet were collected by a method of 24-h recall. Basic
anthropometric measurements (body weight, body height, waist and hip circumference) weretaken, as well as threefold measurement of blood pressure. The data were statistically analyzed.
Results: The average value of blood pressure was 131.2 ± 15.5/82.9 ± 10.5 mm Hg. Approximately 90% of the respondents had abnormal body weight, i.e. excessive weight or obesity.
Abdominal obesity according to waist hip ratio assessment was diagnosed in 87% of womenand 66% of men; according to the measurement of waist circumference, it was diagnosed in
140 (81%) women and 88 (81%) men. Among the ingredients with antihypertensive effect, thesodium intake was 4,417.8 ± 2,052.7 mg/d, which when converted to salt is on average 11 g/d,
potassium: 3,808.5 ± 1,265.7 mg/d, calcium: 724.6 ± 413.7 mg/d, and magnesium: 383.9 ±± 139.3 mg/d. One in 5 (18%) people declared smoking. Only 5% of subjects reported highlevel of physical activity.
Conclusions: In persons with diagnosed hypertension, vast majority of patients did not implement non-pharmacological hypertension treatment. (Cardiol J 2016; 23, 5: 491–496)
Key words: hypertension, obesity, salt, diet, lifestyle

Introduction
Hypertension has been a serious medical
problem for many years. It is estimated that thefrequency of the prevalence of hypertension in thegeneral population is approx. 30–45%, but it signifi-

cantly increases with age [1]. In the NATPOL study
conducted in 2011, it was demonstrated that the
number of people suffering from hypertension increased during the last 10 years by 2% on average,
and currently approx. 32% of adult Poles suffersfrom it (10.5 million patients, including 9.5 million

Address for correspondence: Prof. Mirosław Jarosz, MD, PhD, Department of Nutrition and Dietetic with Clinic of Metabolic
Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, ul. Powsińska 61/63, 02–903 Warszawa, Poland,tel: +48 22 550-96-77, fax: +48 22 842-11-03, e-mail: jarosz@izz.waw.pl
Received: 16.12.2015

Accepted: 07.05.2016

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Cardiology Journal 2016, Vol. 23, No. 5

aged 18–79 and almost 1 million patients above 80)[2, 3]. In the WOBASZ study, the frequency of theprevalence of hypertension was 36%, including
33% in women and 42% in men. In POLSENIOR
study, the prevalence of hypertension in the sample
of Poles (n = 4,929) over 64 years was 76% (72%in men, 78% in women) [4].
Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which in turn is the leading causeof death in industrialized countries. Hypertension
very often co-occurs with obesity, diabetes, andlipid abnormalities, which greatly increases the riskof cardiovascular diseases. It is the leading causeof heart attacks and strokes, as well as heart andkidney failure.
It has been demonstrated that a properly
conditioned modification of lifestyle has equivalentantihypertensive effect as the use of 1 antihypertensive medicine [5]. The changes in lifestyle also
contribute to the control of other cardiovascularrisk factors resulting from the co-occurrence of
diet-related diseases. The main recommended
lifestyle changes that affect blood pressure (BP)include: reducing salt intake and alcohol consumption, high intake of fruit, vegetables and calcium
and diet consisting of low-fat products, especially ofanimal origin, maintaining appropriate body weightor its reduction in case of excessive weight/obesity,
regular physical activity, smoking cessation [1].
Hypertension and its complications (e.g.
strokes, heart attacks) are a serious public healthproblem and economic burden to the Polish healthcare system. In order to reduce the risk of complications and costs, non-pharmacological methods ofhypertension treatment are important. Therefore,
the authors decided to analyze whether patientswith hypertension follow (and to what extent) the
essential recommendations of non-pharmacologicaltreatment of this disease.
The aim of the study was to answer the question whether patients with hypertension use
non-pharmacological methods of hypertension
treatment.

Methods
The study was conducted at the National
Food and Nutrition Institute from October 2010
to November 2011 in a group of 280 subjects aged
18–85. The study included patients referred to
the Outpatient Clinic of Metabolic Diseases andClinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology of the National Food and Nutrition Institutewith diagnosed hypertension and who took an-

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tihypertensive medicines on a permanent basis.
The respondents gave their written consent toparticipate in the study.
In the study group, on the basis of the author’squestionnaire, data were collected on the prevalence of diseases including hypertension, and typeof pharmacotherapy chosen as treatment. Data on
lifestyle factors that affect BP, including physicalactivity and smoking and alcohol consumption. Dataon nutritional habits were collected by 24-h recall,on the basis of which the daily food ration was estimated using the “Album of photos of products anddishes” [6] and its nutritional value was calculatedusing a computer program Diet 5.0.
In the study, 10 nutritional and non-nutritional
factors, which affect the hypertension treatment
were analyzed: intake of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, adding salt to meals, drugs, intake
of alcohol and smoking, prevalence of excessive
weight and obesity, as well as physical activity. The
level of physical activity was evaluated according to
the following criteria: 1) Low physical activity — it
refers to a person whose daily activities require noeffort. The person moves mainly by car, and does
not practice any sport regularly. The person spends
most of the time sitting or standing. 2) Moderate
physical activity — a person who has sedentary
work, but regularly spends a certain amount oftime on moderate or intensive physical activity.
3) High physical activity — a person performing
intense physical work regularly, a few hours a day.
Every subject had threefold BP measurement
according to standard guidelines of the European
Society of Hypertension (ESH) with the use ofOmron MT-10 IT (Omron, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands). From the obtained values, the averagevalue of BP was calculated [7].
On the basis of anthropometric measurements(body weight and height), the nutritional status
was assessed using weight-height body mass index(BMI), calculated according to the formula: BMI =body weight (kg) / body height (m2). According toWorld Health Organization (WHO) guidelines [8],excessive weight was recognized at BMI values
25–29.9 kg/m2 and obesity when BMI was ≥ 30 kg//m2 [8]. Using the measurements of waist and hip
circumference, waist hip ratio (WHR) was calculated defining the type of obesity. According to WHO
guidelines it was assumed that the WHR value
lower than 0.8 in women and lower than 1.0 in men
indicates gynoid obesity (gluteal-femoral), whereas
the WHR value higher than 0.8 in women andhigher than 1.0 in men is determined as abdominal
obesity. Abdominal obesity was also evaluated onwww.cardiologyjournal.org

Mirosław Jarosz et al., Nutrition and lifestyle in patients pharmacologically treated due to hypertension

the basis of waist circumference measurement andthe criteria adopted for the diagnosis of this anomaly according to National Cholesterol Education
Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III)— waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men and≥ 88 cm in non-pregnant women [9] The data were
statistically analyzed using Statistica 10.0 program.

Results
Characteristics of the study group
The study group consisted of 280 patients,
including 171 women and 109 men, respectively
61% and 39% of the study group. The average
age was 55.0 ± 12.1 years. The subjects were ofsecondary education (47%) and higher education(35%). Most patients (73%) were individuals who
retired/retired or performed a sedentary job. Workrequiring physical effort was 26% of respondents.
All subjects who participated in the study(n = 280) suffered from hypertension and took
antihypertensive medicines on a permanent basis. These were mainly beta-blockers — 36% ofrespondents, comparable drugs from the group ofangiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitorsand diuretics (22% and 20%), medicines in theangiotensin II receptor antagonists in 12% of patients, medicines calcium channel blockers — 10%of patients. Taking medicines for hypertension
lasted for a period of 11.3 ± 8.7 years on average.
The average value of BP in the whole group was
131.2 ± 15.5/82.9 ± 10.5 mm Hg. Normal valuesof BP were encountered in 20% of respondents.
Additional diseases were lipid disorders in 78% of
patients, type II diabetes in 14%, and gout in 12%.
The results of anthropometric test
Average body weight was 96.5 ± 22.8 kg (89.9 ±± 21.3 kg for women and 107 ± 21.3 kg for men),
BMI 34.0 ± 6.8 kg/m2. Ninety percent of respondents had abnormal body weight, i.e. excessive
weight or obesity. In 1 in 5 (19%) subjects, excessive weight was diagnosed, i.e. BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2
and in 71% it was obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) including morbid obesity (BMI > 40.0 kg/m2) which wasdiagnosed in 18% of people.
On the basis of WHR, it has been demonstrated that among the subjects abdominal obesity
prevailed. Average value of WHR was 0.87 ± 0.06
in women and 1.02 ± 0.06 in men, respectively. The
problem of abdominal obesity according to WHR
evaluation concerned 87% of women and 66% of men.
Abdominal obesity, classified on the basis of
waist circumference above 88 cm in women, wasobserved in 140 women (81%), and the average
waist circumference was 104.7 ± 15.9 cm. Waist
circumference above 102 cm, which is the evidenceof abdominal obesity, was observed in 88 (81%)
men and the average value was 116.3 ± 15.0 cm.
In addition to hypertension, 78% of the subjects had lipid abnormalities (increased cholesterol and triglycerides), 18% type II diabetes,and 13% gout.

Nutritional factors
The energy value of the analyzed daily foodrations was on average 2146.9 ± 844.4 kcal. In the
total pool of energy, energy from protein constituted 18.2 ± 4.9%, from carbohydrates 47.7 ± 8.9%,
and from fat 33.3 ± 8.4%. Protein intake averagely
amounted to 94.4 ± 37.1 g, including 65.6 ± 31.1 gof protein of animal origin and 28.7 ± 11.2 g of vegetable protein. Average protein intake per kg bodyweight was 1 g. Among the ingredients with antihypertensive effect, sodium intake was 4,417.8 ±± 2,052.7 mg/d, which when converted to salt was on
average 11 g/d, potassium: 3,808.5 ± 1,265.7 mg/d,
calcium: 724.6 ± 413.7 mg/d and magnesium:
383.9 ± 139.3 mg/d. Every third (30%) person in
the study group added salt to ready-made meals,
and the most commonly used salt was ordinary,iodized salt (55%) or rock (29%) salt. Only 9%of respondents chose low sodium, potassium ormagnesium salt.
Lifestyle factors
Only 5% of patients declared high level ofphysical activity and 41% of respondents declaredmoderate level of physical activity. In contrast,
low level of physical activity was declared by morethan half of the respondents (53%). The most oftenchosen form of activity was walking — 40% of the
respondents.
Among the subjects, 1 in 5 (18%) person declared smoking. These were subjects who, despite
diagnosed disease, did not refrain from smoking,they smoked on average for 21.9 ± 12.2 years,
15.4 ± 7.2 cigarettes per day.
In the analysis assessing the implementationof the recommendations of non-pharmacologicalhypertension treatment (Table 1) [10], the intake
of too high amount of sodium and low intake ofpotassium, calcium and magnesium with the diet
was observed. In the study group, high percentage of the participants had abnormal body weight,
especially abdominal obesity.
Regular alcohol consumption (at least 2–3
times a week) was declared by 17% of people.

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Cardiology Journal 2016, Vol. 23, No. 5

Table 1. Implementation of the recommendations of nutritional and lifestyle factors that affect bloodpressure among people with hypertension.
Modifiable nutritional
and lifestyle factorsof hypertension

Desirable
valuesThe number and proportionof the study population (n = 280)
Achieved
desirable values (n/%)

Lack of achieved
desirable values (n/%)

Nourishment:
Sodium< 1500 mg*

9

3

271

97

Potassium*> 4700 mg

57

20

223

80

Calcium> 1000 mg*

56

20

224

80

Magnesium
Adding salt to meals> 320 mg/420 mg*

147

53

133

47

No

196

70

84

30

Smoking

No

231

82

49

18

Alcohol consumption

No

233

83

47

17

Excessive weight and obesity

BMI < 25 kg/m2

29

10

251

90

Abdominal obesity

WHR: women < 0.8,
men: < 1.0

49

17

231

83

Physical activity

Moderate and high

130

46

150

54

Data are presented as numbers and percentages; BMI — body mass index, WHR — waist to hip ratio; *Jarosz M. ed., 2012 [10]They were mostly men — 86% of respondents. The
most popular drink was beer — 60% of subjects
who consume alcohol regularly, and wine — 34%
of respondents. The others (83%) drank alcohol
occasionally (not more than 1–2 times a month orless), or did not consume alcohol at all.

Discussion
The scientific literature, both domestic andforeign, does not include analyses concerning theapplication of the recommendations of a healthy
lifestyle (nutrition and physical activity) by persons
with diagnosed hypertension. Only the analyses
discussing the impact of individual elements oflifestyle, including diet, on BP are available.
In the analysis of own research it was demonstrated that every fifth person had excessive
weight and 71% had obesity, including morbid
obesity in 18% of people.
The problem of abdominal obesity, according
to WHR evaluation, concerned 87% of women and
66% of men, while according to waist circumference criterion it occurred in 140 (81%) women and
88 (81%) men. Such a high percentage of people
with abnormal body weight, especially abdominal
obesity, is one of the most important factors affecting the development of hypertension.
The findings of the studies suggest that bodyweight reduction is conducive to lowering BP.

494

A meta-analysis of 25 studies showed an average
reduction of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP(DBP) by 4.4 and 3.6 mm Hg with each 5 kg ofbody weight loss [11].
In the analysis of the Korea National Healthand Nutrition Examination Survey, it was demonstrated that individuals with sarcopenic obesity(loss of muscle tissue and the excessive growthof body fat) have approx. 12 mm Hg higher SBP
and 5 mm higher Hg DBP than people with simple
obesity [12].
In the studies by Despres at al. [13], evaluating the relationship between the content of body
fat and the values of BP, it was observed thatthe amount of subcutaneous fat and its percentage content is significantly correlated with DBP(r = 0.37, p < 0.0005) and SBP (r = 0.29, p < 0.01).
Other factors contributing to BP were age and, inmen, alcohol consumption.
In our study, lack of physical activity or its low
level was declared by 53% of respondents, and only
5% declared high level of physical activity.
In a recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials, it was concluded that dynamic,
aerobic endurance training reduces SBP and DBP
at rest by 3.0/2.4 mm Hg and the average pressure throughout the day in ambulatory monitoringby 3.3/35 mm Hg. The reduction of SBP at rest
was higher in patients with hypertension (–6.9//–4.9 mm Hg) than in patients with normal BP

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Mirosław Jarosz et al., Nutrition and lifestyle in patients pharmacologically treated due to hypertension(–1.9/–1.6 mm Hg). Even moderate physical activity lowered BP [14].
Among the study group, every fifth (18%)
person declared smoking. These were the subjects
who, despite the diagnosed disease, did not refrainfrom smoking, and smoked on average for 21.9 ±± 12.2 years, 15.4 ± 7.2 cigarettes per day.
Wanshu et al. [15], while evaluating 27,789 volunteers of the Chinese population, demonstrated
that the common prevalence of excessive weightand smoking causes a 4.49 times greater risk ofhypertension than a single factor [15].
In the 7-year study (2003–2010), where 297
healthy adults were observed, it was shown thatover this time the main reason for the development of hypertension in 23.6% of subjects was theprevalence of abdominal obesity and smoking [16].
In another study, the strength of the main risk
factors of the development of hypertension wasdetermined — origin, nutritional habits, alcohol
consumption, smoking, stress level and medical
history. It has been demonstrated that among
women high BP was significantly dependent on theage (U = 10,513.5; z = –5.117), BMI (U = 9,635;
z = –5.832), WHR (U = 12,738; z = –2.888) andlevel of cholesterol (U = 2,827.5; z = –2268).
Among men, the significant factors involved in thedevelopment of hypertension were age, BMI, andstress level [17].
In our study, among the antihypertensive
ingredients, the sodium intake was 4,417 ± 2,052
mg/d, which when converted to salt constituted
on average 11.0 g/d, potassium: 3,808.5 ± 1,265.7
mg/d, calcium: 724.6 ± 413.7 mg/d, and magnesium: 383.9 ± 139.3 mg/d.
In recommendations concerning salt intake,the amount not more than 5–6 g per day is determined, while the average intake in many countries
is approx. 9–12 g per day. In the Joint National Committee (JNC) report, it is recommended for patientswith hypertension to limit the sodium intake to
2.4 g (6 g NaCl) per day [18]. In our study, itamounted to 11 g/d. The percentage of people
consuming salt in an amount above 6 g/d was 97%.
The reduction of salt intake to approx. 5 g per
day contributes to lowering BP by 4–5 mm Hg in
hypertensive persons and about 1–2 mm Hg in
normotensive persons [19]. In a landmark study,
the International Study of Salt and Blood Pressure (INTERSALT) international research project
involving more than 10,000 people aged 20–59
from 32 countries — it was demonstrated that thedifference in sodium intake of 100 mmol per day(6 g NaCl) is associated with the difference of SBP/
/DBP of 6/3 mm Hg [20].
The consumption of excessive amounts of
sodium chloride contributes to the increase of BP,
and leads to a variety of metabolic disorders, among
others, the weakening of nitric oxide synthetaseactivity and the reduction of insulin sensitivity [21].
While analyzing the role of sodium in the etiology
of hypertension it has been demonstrated that its
reduced intake, especially when combined with theapplication of Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, has a beneficial effect on BP and
lipid metabolism, both in healthy individuals as wellas in persons with hypertension [22].
In the meta-analysis of studies assessing theimpact of the diet low in sodium on BP, it has beenshown that in adults the reduction of sodium intake
contributes to lowering systolic BP by 3.39 mm Hg(95%, 2.46–4.31) and diastolic BP by 1.54 mm Hg(0.98–2.11). Sodium intake of less than 2 g per day
is conducive to lowering systolic BP by 3.47 mm Hg(0.76–6.18) and diastolic BP by 1.81 mm Hg(0.54–3.08) [23].
A diet that includes natural sources of potassium is important in controlling BP because
potassium reduces the effects of sodium. The
recommended daily intake of potassium for an
average adult is about 4,700 mg/day [10]. Potassium supplementation increases the productionof nitric oxide in the endothelium and relieves
the organ effects of hypertension. It has been observed, however, that in animals, too large intake
of sodium and potassium led to cardiac hypertrophyand stroke [24].
There are no precise data defining the doseof potassium as an agent lowering BP. However,the consumption of at least 4.7 g (120 mmol/day)demonstrates a very good therapeutic effect. The
meta-analysis of Whelton et al. [25] showed thatthe increase of potassium intake lowers BP both inpatients with and without hypertension. In anothermeta-analysis, it was demonstrated that increased
potassium intake leads to lowering of the SBP by
3.49 mm Hg (95% CI 1.82–5.15) [26].
The influence of calcium and magnesium
on BP is ambiguous and not fully understood.
It is believed that the impact of calcium on BP
is associated with its effect on vascular smoothmuscles, Ca-dependent hormones (PTH, 1.25
dihydroxyvitamin D3, calcitonin) activity of renin–
angiotensin system, the activity of the sympathetic
nervous system, metabolism of other electrolytes,
calcium-binding proteins, and the concentrationwww.cardiologyjournal.org

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Cardiology Journal 2016, Vol. 23, No. 5

of free intracellular calcium, whereas the roleof other elements in the regulation of BP value
may be largely linked to their influence on calcium metabolism [27]. In the studies, an inverse
relationship between the content of potassium,
calcium and magnesium in the diet and the BP
value is observed [28, 29]. Meta-analyses showa small reduction of SBP from 0.9 to 1.4 mm Hg
and DBP from 0.2 to 0.8 mm Hg during calcium
supplementation (400–2,000 mg/d) [30].

8.
9.

10.

11.

12.

Conclusions
In summary, in patients with diagnosed hypertension, vast majority of patients have not
implemented non-pharmacological methods ofhypertension treatment. The most important factors were: excessive weight, including abdominal
obesity, low or lack of physical activity, incorrect
nutrition (low calcium and potassium intake). High(97%) percentage of people who consume excessive amounts of salt has been demonstrated, which
is one of the main factors in the development ofhypertension. In the healthcare system, there isan urgent need to develop effective methods ofeducation of patients with hypertension. An essential element that would improve the effectivenessof hypertension treatment would be individual
work with a nutritionist on the introduction andimplementation of non-pharmacological methodsof treatment of this disease.

3.

4.
5.

6.
7.

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16.

17.

18.

19.

21.

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Conflict of interest: None declared

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