In a nutshell
This study examined how different diets could be used to lower high blood pressure. They found that the effect on blood pressure from a modified diet replacing carbohydrates with fat was comparable to a low fat diet.
Some background
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern emphasizes fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, and whole grains. This diet is often recommended for reducing blood pressure and heart disease risk. However, the success of this diet depends on how well the patient follows the guidelines.
It is suggested that this diet can be varied by substituting carbohydrate with fat, and that this could reduce triglycerides and increase good cholesterol levels. It is not known what the effect of replacing carbohydrates with saturated fats (such as those found in full-fat dairy products) is.
Methods & findings
This study examined the effect of replacing nonfat or low-fat dairy with full-fat dairy in the DASH diet.
Participants consumed in random order a control diet (original unchanged diet), a standard DASH diet, and a higher-fat, lower-carbohydrate modification of the DASH diet (HF-DASH diet) for 3 weeks each. After each 3 week period, body weight, body fat levels and blood pressure were measured. 36 participants completed all 3 experimental diets and were analyzed.
Body weight remained stable throughout the study and there were no differences between the diets.
DASH and HF-DASH diets produced significant reductions in blood pressure compared to the control diet. There were no significant differences between the DASH and HF-DASH diets. Both morning and evening blood pressure measured by the participants at home were similarly reduced with the DASH and HF-DASH diets compared with the control diet.
Both the DASH and the HF-DASH diets significantly reduced total cholesterol levels compared with the control diet. The DASH diet also significantly decreased LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) concentrations compared with the control diet.
The HF-DASH diet also reduced triglyceride (type of fat) and VLDL cholesterol (type of cholesterol) concentrations without significantly increasing LDL cholesterol.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that the HF-DASH diet lowered blood pressure to the same extent as the DASH diet.
The fine print
There was a small number of patients studied.
What’s next?
Discuss dietary options with your doctor.
Published By :
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Date :
Dec 30, 2015
