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. 2008 Jul 15;337:a258. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a258

Table 2.

 Estimated differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure associated with dietary iron intake (mg/4.2 MJ) higher by 2 SD† (mg/4.2 MJ) in 4680 adults

Model Difference (99% CI) in
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
Total dietary iron (mg/4.2 MJ):
 1 −2.06 (−3.06 to −1.07)*** −1.07 (−1.75 to −0.39)***
 2 −1.44 (−2.46 to −0.43)*** −0.71 (−1.41 to −0.02)**
 3 −1.39 (−2.45 to −0.34)** −0.68 (−1.37 to 0.01)
 4a −1.40 (−2.55 to −0.25)** −0.73 (−1.51 to 0.06)
 4b −1.17 (−2.32 to −0.02)** −0.47 (−1.26 to 0.32)
 4c −1.10 (−2.32 to 0.12) −0.61 (−1.44 to 0.22)
 4d −0.85 (−2.01 to 0.31) −0.30 (−1.10 to 0.50)
 4e −1.06 (−2.17 to 0.05) −0.43 (−1.19 to 0.33)
 4f −1.45 (−2.51 to −0.38)** −0.69 (−1.42 to 0.04)
Non-haem iron (mg/4.2 MJ):
 1 −2.17 (−3.17 to −1.18)*** −1.13 (−1.81, −0.45)***
 2 −1.51 (−2.53 to −0.48)*** −0.75 (−1.45 to −0.05)**
 3 −1.45 (−2.51 to −0.38)*** −0.73 (−1.43 to −0.04)**
 4a −1.48 (−2.64 to −0.31)*** −0.79 (−1.58 to 0.01)
 4b −1.22 (−2.40 to −0.05)** −0.50 (−1.31 to 0.30)
 4c −1.16 (−2.39 to 0.07) −0.67 (−1.51 to 0.17)
 4d −0.90 (−2.07 to 0.26) −0.34 (−1.14 to 0.46)
 4e −1.08 (−2.20 to 0.04) −0.45 (−1.23 to 0.32)
 4f −1.49 (−2.56 to −0.42)*** −0.72 (−1.45 to 0.01)
Haem iron (mg/4.2 MJ):
 1 0.56 (−0.52 to 1.64) 0.27 (−0.45 to 0.98)
 2 0.19 (−0.88 to 1.27) 0.10 (−0.62 to 0.82)
 3 0.06 (−1.08 to 1.21) 0.14 (−0.63 to 0.90)
 4a 0.03 (−1.12 to 1.18) 0.13 (−0.63 to 0.90)
 4b −0.11 (−1.28 to 1.05) 0.02 (−0.75 to 0.80)
 4c 0.08 (−1.07 to 1.23) 0.15 (−0.62 to 0.92)
 4d 0.19 (−0.97 to 1.36) 0.20 (−0.57 to 0.98)
 4e −0.19 (−1.35 to 0.97) 0.01 (−0.77 to 0.78)
 4f 0.16 (−1.23 to 1.55) 0.18 (−0.74 to 1.10)

1=age, sex, sample, height, weight, special diet, supplement use, physical activity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and family history of hypertension; 2=plus urinary sodium, urinary potassium, and alcohol; 3=plus cholesterol, saturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids; 4a=plus fibre; 4b=or plus vegetable protein; 4c=or plus magnesium, 4=or plus phosphorus; 4e=or plus calcium; 4f=or plus animal protein.

***P<0.001.

**P<0.01.

†2 SD difference: 4.20 mg/4.2 MJ (total dietary iron), 4.13 mg/4.2 MJ (non-haem iron), and 0.61 (haem iron) mg/4.2 MJ.