Association of lifestyle parameters with the prevention of hypertension in elderly Japanese men and women: a four-year follow-up of normotensive subjects.

To study the association of lifestyle parameters with the future risk of hypertension in normotensive subjects, a baseline questionnaire and a four-year follow-up were performed in 445 normotensive Japanese at 35 to 89 years of age. In 60 to 69 year old subjects, the changes of blood pressure during four years were negatively correlated with the amount of boiled rice intake in men and with Japanese tea intake in women. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that miso-soup intake at two bowls per day or over was protective against hypertension during follow-up (p < 0.05). These results indicate that food intake is important in the prevention of hypertension in the elderly.