A new analysis suggests drinking or eating from cans or bottles containing Bisphenol A (BPA) could increase one's risk of having high blood pressure.
BPA is a chemical used to line cans and plastic bottles, but research has shown it can contaminate the food and drinks it is exposed to, a news release reported.
"A 5 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure by drinking two canned beverages may cause clinically significant problems, particularly in patients with heart disease or hypertension," said Yun-Chul Hong, M.D., Ph.D., study author and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and director of the Environmental Health Center at Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea. "A 20 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease."
To make their findings researchers conducted a trial consisting of over 60 adults composed of mostly Korean women over the age of 60. The participants drank soy milk out of either glass bottles or cans and later had their urine BPA levels tested along with their blood pressure and heart rate two hours after consumption. Soy milk was used because it is not known to raise blood pressure in any way.
"Thanks to the crossover intervention trial design, we could control most of the potential confounders, such as population characteristics or past medical history. Time variables, such as daily temperatures, however, could still affect the results," Hong said.
The researchers found urinary BPA concentration increased by up to 1,600 percent after canned beverages were consumed compared to bottled beverages.
"I suggest consumers try to eat fresh foods or glass bottle-contained foods rather than canned foods and hopefully, manufacturers will develop and use healthy alternatives to BPA for the inner lining of can containers," Hong said.
The findings were published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension.
