By Jimmy Downs

Monday April 22, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Prehypertension may predict a high risk for coronary heart disease, according to a new meta-analysis reported in The American Journal of Cardiology.

Li Shen, PhD from Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China and colleagues analysed data from previous studies and found individuals whose blood pressures were in the high range of prehypertension were 50 percent more likely to suffer coronary heart disease.

Data used for the meta-analysis came from 18 studies of 934,106 participants and 14,952 cases who were followed up for a median period of 8.8 years.

Overall, prehypertension was correlated with a 36% elevated risk for coronary heart disease.

Eight studies estimated the risk of coronary heart disease in those in the low range of prehypertension or 120/80 to 129/84 mm Hg and those in the high range of prehypertension or 130/85 to 139/89 mm Hg.

These studies found those in the high range of prehypertension were 53 percent more likely to suffer coronary heart disease and those in the low range of prehypertension were 16%  more likely to develop coronary heart disease.

The researchers concluded "prehypertension is associated with a significantly increased risk for developing CHD (coronary heart disease), particularly high-range prehypertension. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed to clarify the efficacy of blood pressure reduction in subjects with prehypertension."

The best way to prevent coronary heart disease is to eat a vegan diet or at least increase intake of plant-based foods and reduce intake of animal-based foods.   Evidence shows vegan diet can stop the progression of coronary heart disease or even reverse the condition in 99% of cases.