FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Guidance from healthcare providers for prehypertensive patients more important than ever New survey reveals knowledge gaps about the definition of prehypertension, as well as the risk factors and medical consequences associated with the condition NEW YORK CITY, June 9 – Several years after The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure announced guidelines classifying about 50 million people in the U.S. as having prehypertension, many American adults are still in the dark about the condition, results of a new survey show. The survey, commissioned by Calpis Co., Ltd. And Harris Interactive®, suggests the initial burst of media attention following the committee's 2003 announcement was not enough to adequately inform the public, and that patients are still badly in need of one-on-one education about prehypertension from their doctors. Such guidance is more important now than ever, with a recent article in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggesting that the number of people in the U.S. with the condition may have swelled to as high as 70 million. Nearly half (48%) of American adults failed to define prehypertension correctly, with 22 percent providing an incorrect response and 26 percent saying they were unsure. Even among respondents who had been diagnosed with prehypertension or had a family member with the condition, more than one in four (28%) could not provide a correct definition. "Physicians need to know that many of their patients simply aren't getting the necessary information about prehypertension from sources outside of the doctor's office," according to Joel Neutel, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California-Irvine and a specialist in clinical hypertension for The American Society of Hypertension. "That means that doctors should be proactive about discussing prehypertension with patients and helping them to come up with a plan of action if their blood pressure is in the prehypertensive range." Ignorance and misconceptions also persist around the risk factors for prehypertension. The survey shows that more than half of Americans (54 percent) mistakenly believe that prehypertension is tied to stress, while neglecting actual risk factors such as obesity, age, and use of oral contraceptives. Only 36 percent of respondents correctly identified age as a risk factor, while 51 percent knew that obesity put people at risk and just nine percent were aware that oral contraceptives could increase the risk. Even more worrisome is the fact that American adults — even those who have been touched by hypertension — often fail to realize the seriousness of the condition. Thirty-seven percent of American adults were unaware that prehypertension can lead to high blood pressure, and 41 percent were unaware that it increases the risk of heart attack. Among those who had been diagnosed with prehypertension or had a family member with the condition, awareness was also less than ideal, with 28 percent unaware of the connection to high blood pressure and 23 percent unaware of the increased heart attack risk. Important steps for prehypertensive patients to take can include decreasing sodium intake, increasing exercise, losing weight, quitting smoking, and, if desired, taking an appropriate dietary supplement. The new survey demonstrates strong interest in dietary supplements for prehypertension among those who have prehypertension or have a family member with the condition. In fact, a large majority (80 percent) of these adults say that they would be somewhat to very likely to take an all-natural dietary supplement to maintain healthy blood pressure. The survey also shows that patients trust their doctors when it comes to deciding whether to take a dietary supplement. Seventy-six percent of adults who have prehypertension or have a family member with the condition say that they would be more likely to take a dietary supplement to maintain healthy blood pressure if a physician recommended doing so. Americans are increasingly turning to dietary supplements to help them maintain their health. In fact, the National Institutes of Health estimates that more than half of adults aged 20 or over take supplements. But to get the most out of the products, it's important to choose wisely. "Consumers must be sure that they choose dietary supplements that have been rigorously tested," according to Dr. Sheldon Saul Hendler, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, principal author and co-editor of the PDR for Nutritional Supplements and renowned expert in the area of biochemistry and dietary supplements. "Dietary supplements provide physicians with a gentler tool they can recommend for their patients along with lifestyle changes to help maintain blood pressure at healthy levels." One such product is AmealPeptide®, an all-natural dietary supplement derived from non-fat milk that has been shown in more than 10 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials to help maintain healthy blood pressure without the side effects that can be associated with prescription drugs such as ACE inhibitors. About AmealPeptide® AmealPeptide® is an all-natural dietary supplement derived from nonfat milk. It consists of two peptides (VPP and IPP) that are naturally occurring substances also found in fermented dairy products such as cheese and yogurt. However, it is difficult to consume enough of these foods on a daily basis to obtain efficient blood pressure benefit. Calpis uses proprietary technology to hydrolyze the milk protein casein to provide the two tripeptides VPP and IPP in clinically meaningful amounts. AmealPeptide® helps control biochemical reactions that cause the constriction of blood vessels. The reduced constriction helps blood to flow more freely, which in turn can help to keep blood pressure in a healthy range. About Calpis Co., Ltd. Calpis Co., Ltd. is at the forefront of scientific achievement in lactic-acid fermentation processing, and has secured its leading position in the global marketplace. The company was the first to isolate AmealPeptide® and the first to discover its usefulness in lowering blood pressure. Although Calpis is well known in Asia as a soft drink brand, in recent years its AmealPeptide®-based health drinks and dietary supplements have made their mark on the burgeoning functional foods market in Japan and the U.S. About the Survey This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Calpis Co., Ltd. among 2,326 adults (aged 18 and over) within the United States between May 19 and May 23, 2006. Figures for region, age within gender, education, household income and race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online. With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,326 adults one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 3 percentage points. Sampling error for the sub-sample of those who have been diagnosed with pre-hypertension by a health care professional or have a family member who has (n= 563) is +/- 6 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated. About Harris Interactive Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what could conceivably be the world's largest panel of survey respondents: The Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com. To become a member of the Harris Poll Online, visit www.harrispollonline.com. < BACK TO MEDIA RELATIONS