The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Since no evidence has been found regarding the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) on cardiovascular risk factors among type 2 diabetic patients, this study was conducted to investigate the possible effects. A randomized crossover clinical trial was undertaken on 31 type 2 diabetic patients. The study lasted for 8 weeks. The participants were randomly selected to go on a control diet or DASH diet. After following the DASH eating pattern, body weight (P = 0.007) and waist circumference (P = 0.002) were reduced significantly. Fasting blood glucose levels and A1C decreased after adoption of the DASH diet (-29.4 ± 6.3 mg/dl; P = 0.04 and -1.7 ± 0.1%; P = 0.04, respectively). After the DASH diet, the mean change of HDL cholesterol levels was increased (4.3 ± 0.9 mg/dl; P = 0.001) and LDL cholesterol was reduced (-17.2 ± 3.5 mg/dl; P = 0.02). Additionally, DASH had beneficial effects on systolic (-13.6 ± 3.5 vs. -3.1 ± 2.7 mmHg; P = 0.02) and diastolic blood pressure (-9.5 ± 2.6 vs. -0.7 ± 3.3 mmHg; P = 0.04). Among diabetic patients, the DASH diet had beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors.