Nutritional knowledge, nutrients intake and nutritional status of hypertensive patients in Ondo State, Nigeria

This study aimed at assessing the anthropometry, dietary intake and micronutrient status of hypertensive patients attending specialist hospitals in Ondo State, Nigeria. A descriptive case control study was conducted among subjects attending two specialist hospitals located in Akure and Ondo towns. A total of 452 subjects (44.9% males and 55.1% females), was purposely selected from the study centres. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect information on demographic characteristics, socio-economic parameters, nutrition knowledge and dietary intakes of the subjects. The quantities of subjects’ dietary intakes were measured using household measurements. Weight, height, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were measured using electronic bathroom scale, standiometer and sphygmomanometer, respectively. The subject’s urine was collected; and vitamin C, sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc and magnesium were determined using standard procedures. The results showed the following means: age 52.4±2.38 years, weight 66.4±1.63 kg, height 1.64±0.01m, body mass index (BMI) 24.13±0.69kg/m², SBP 124.86±2.3mmHg and DBP 76.22±1.86 mmHg. Blood pressure (BP) of the subjects showed that 46.9% had optimal BP, 14.2% normal BP, 11.5% high normal BP, 12.8% mild hypertension, 9.7% moderate hypertension and 4.9% severe hypertension. For BMI, 8.8% were underweight, 47.1% normal, 30.3% overweight, 6.0% obesity class I, 6.0% obesity class II and 1.8% obesity class III. The proportion of hypertensive subjects that were obese was signiﬁcantly (P=0.0001) higher than control subjects. Three-ﬁfth of the control subjects had good nutrition knowledge compared to one-ﬁfth of hypertensive subjects. The estimated mean energy intake was 8.46 MJ, protein 93.1g, carbohydrate 314.5g, fat 42.9g, ﬁbres 5.6g and appreciable amount of vitamin C, calcium, zinc, magnesium, sodium and potassium. The subjects’ urinary vitamin C concentration was 32.49±2.53mg; calcium 0.41±0.06mg, zinc 0.04±0.01mg; magnesium 4.57±0.37mg, sodium 8.33±0.37mg) and potassium 7.45±0.21mg. Statistically, there were signiﬁcant differences (P<0.05) between urinary vitamin C, sodium and potassium concentration (except zinc) of hypertensive patients and the control subjects. Weak correlations were observed between the subjects’ systolic (P<0.05) and diastolic (P<0.01) BP and age, BMI and magnesium; with inverse correlations between vitamin C, sodium and potassium. The study concluded that hypertension was signiﬁ cantly inﬂuenced by BMI of the subjects, which may be an indication of high intake of calories. Therefore, calorie intake should be controlled among the hypertensives.