The DASH diet is low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol. It emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and lowfat dairy foods, and includes whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts. It is reduced in red meat, sweets, and sugar-containing beverages. It is rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as protein and fiber.
The blood pressure reductions in that study occurred without changes in weight, alcohol consumption, or dietary sodium intake. All study participants consumed about 3,000 milligrams daily of dietary sodium, which is slightly below Americans' average consumption.
DASH-Sodium, the second study, was conducted to look at the relationships between blood pressure and various sodium intakes during two different eating patterns.
DASH-Sodium involved 412 participants, aged 22 or older. About 57 percent of the participants were women and about 57 percent were African Americans. Participants had systolic blood pressures of 120-159 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure of 80-95 mm Hg. About 41 percent had hypertension.
Participants had all of their food provided. They were randomly assigned to one of two dietary plans, each of which was followed at three sodium levels. The two dietary plans were a "usual" diet, typical of what many Americans eat, and the DASH diet. The three sodium levels, each consumed for four weeks, were: a "higher" intake of 3,300 milligrams per day; an "intermediate" intake of 2,400 milligrams per day; and a "lower" intake of 1,500 milligrams per day.
Results showed that reducing dietary sodium lowered blood pressure for both the usual and DASH diets. The lower the sodium intake, the lower the blood pressure.
The biggest reductions in blood pressure were found among those who followed the DAS
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NIH/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
16-May-2000