"Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Study".The New England Journal of Medicine. 1997. 336(16):1117-1124.
Links to original sources: Wiki Journal Post Full Journal Article
Contents 1Clinical Question 2Bottom Line 3Major Points 4Guidelines 5Design 6Population 6.1Inclusion Criteria 6.2Exclusion Criteria 6.3Baseline Characteristics 7Interventions 8Outcomes 8.1Primary Outcome 8.2Secondary Outcomes 9Criticisms 10Funding 11Further Reading
In adults with less severe hypertension (systolic blood pressures <160 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressures of 80 to 95 mm Hg), does a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, with reduced saturated and total fat, lower blood pressure?
The DASH diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products and low in saturated and total fat, significantly reduces blood pressure, suggesting an effective dietary approach to prevent and treat hypertension.
The DASH trial was a multicenter, randomized feeding study assessing the impact of dietary patterns on blood pressure. Adults not on antihypertensive medication were provided various diets to determine the effects on blood pressure. The study found that the combination diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, with reduced saturated and total fat, substantially lowered blood pressure, offering an additional approach to hypertension prevention and treatment.
Not directly applicable; however, the DASH diet supports current recommendations for dietary modification in the management of hypertension.
- Multicenter, randomized, controlled, feeding trial - N=459 adults - Three dietary groups: Control diet, Fruit and Vegetable diet, and Combination diet - Intervention phase: 8 weeks - Analysis: Intention-to-treat
- Adults aged 22 years or older, who were not on antihypertensive medication - Baseline systolic blood pressures <160 mm Hg; diastolic blood pressures 80 to 95 mm Hg - Demographically diverse population: approx. 49% women, 60% black
Inclusion Criteria - Systolic blood pressures <160 mm Hg; diastolic blood pressures 80 to 95 mm Hg - Not taking antihypertensive medication
Exclusion Criteria - Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia - Cardiovascular event within previous six months - Body-mass index >35 - Alcohol consumption >14 drinks per week, among others
Baseline Characteristics - Similar across the three diet groups
- Control diet: Typical of American diets - Fruits and vegetables diet: Higher in fruits and vegetables than the control diet - Combination diet: Rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and reduced in saturated and total fat
Primary Outcome - Change in diastolic blood pressure at rest
- Change in systolic blood pressure and in ambulatory diastolic and systolic blood pressure
- Short duration of study; long-term adherence to the diet and effects on clinical cardiovascular events were not assessed.
- Grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the Office of Research on Minority Health, and the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health.
- Vollmer WM, Sacks FM, Ard J, et al. Effects of diet and sodium intake on blood pressure: subgroup analysis of the DASH-sodium trial. Ann Intern Med. 2001;135(12):1019-1028. - Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension. 2003;42(6):1206-1252.