A new study in the American Journal of Hypertension suggests the association between a higher consumption of yogurt and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in hypertensive men and women.

Hypertension is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and affects around one billion people worldwide. Previously, other clinical studies had demonstrated the beneficial effects of dairy consumption on cardiovascular health. A greater consumption of dairy products has also been associated with beneficial effects on the comorbidities related to cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.

The follow-up study involved 55,000 women (aged between 30 and 55) and 18,000 men (ages 40-75) with high blood pressure. Participants completed a questionnaire in 1980 reporting usual dietary intake in the preceding year.

Higher yogurt assumptions were associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of myocardial infarction in women of 19% in men, with 3,300 and 2,148 cases of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, stroke).

Justin R Buendia et al.,  Regular Yogurt Intake and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Hypertensive Adults. American Journal of Hypertension, 2018; DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpx220