ASSIGNMENT TOPIC

Association of dietary calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium intake and

hypertension: a study on an 8-year dietary intake data from the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey

ASSIGMENT SUBMISSION
Submitted to:
Sir Imranullah shah

Submitted by:
Rabia Imtiaz

Semester:
1st

Subject:
Advanced Nutritional Epidemiology

UNIVERSTY OF HOME ECONOMICS,

DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION AND HEALTH
PROMOTION
Importance of this study:
The study is about dietary intake of minerals and their linkage with hypertension. For the normal
regulation of blood pressure mineral elements like potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium
play the main role. Some of these minerals have inverse effect on the hypertension and some of
them have direct effect on the hypertension. This study is important because it discuss not only
the individual effects of the minerals on the hypertension but also the ratios of the minerals like
sodium to potassium ratio and magnesium to calcium ratio. Also made multivariable models to
check independently the relation of above mention dietary minerals with hypertension.
These models depend on different factors such as BMI, educational level, smoking, age, energy
intake, sex, ethnicity and family income. This study also determines the effect of concentration
of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium on hypertension such as by making combinations
such as high sodium/high potassium, low sodium/high potassium, high calcium/high magnesium,
low magnesium/high calcium etc. Depending on the dietary recommendations for every nutrient
(sodium, magnesium, calcium, potassium) these are also examined for linkage with
hypertension. So this study covers almost every aspect to see the effect of them on hypertension.

Why it is needed:
Hypertension is firmly linked with cardiovascular diseases. It is also known as silent killer as
hypertension cause number of deaths worldwide. It is asymptomatic in nature due to which there
are chances that in coming next years it becomes more prevalent. To control hypertension we
need both non-medicated treatment and medicated treatment. But non-medicated treatment or
interventions helps to reduce the usage of anti hypertensive drugs.
Generally in hypertension only we just talk about sodium but there are also other minerals that
have effect on hypertension such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Further due to water
retention (sodium and water connection) there is also increase in hypertension. So mostly in diets
those are used to treat hypertension mainly focus on restriction of sodium intake but effect of
other minerals have also been seen like high potassium have inverse relation with hypertension.
In this study we come to know about the effect of calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium
on hypertension.

Strengths of Study:
 This study emphasized the relationship between minerals, highlighting the need of a well-
balanced diet rather than a single aspect-based diet.
 Participants in the research are of both genders and races.
 The research also analysed all of the aforementioned minerals in ratios to check for correl
ations
 This research use multivariable models and work in different quartiles that makes it more
authentic and comprehensive.
Novelty for the study:
Study should include the persons who take dietary supplements of these minerals in order to
check the difference between minerals through diet and through supplement.

Conclusion:
Findings indicate that the examined minerals' link with hypertension is higher when evaluated
collectively, particularly after gender stratification. Even with a reduced salt consumption,
women had a higher risk of hypertension than males. Women can minimize their chance of
getting hypertension by increasing their calcium and magnesium intake. Men, on the other hand,
would be partially protected against getting hypertension if their calcium consumption met the
dietary targets and their magnesium intake exceeded the nutritional requirements.
Men, on the other hand, would be partially protected against getting hypertension if their calcium
consumption met the dietary targets and their magnesium intake exceeded the nutritional
requirements. Intake of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and low sodium minimizes the risk of
developing hypertension in all persons.