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  • Title: The DASH diet enhances the blood pressure response to losartan in hypertensive patients.
    Author: Conlin PR, Erlinger TP, Bohannon A, Miller ER, Appel LJ, Svetkey LP, Moore TJ.
    Journal: Am J Hypertens; 2003 May; 16(5 Pt 1):337-42. PubMed ID: 12745193.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy products, significantly lowers blood pressure (BP). We conducted a clinical trial to assess the BP response to the DASH diet with an antihypertensive medication, losartan, in participants with essential hypertension. METHODS: A total of 55 hypertensive participants were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of controlled feeding with either a control diet or the DASH diet. Within each diet arm, participants received losartan 50 mg daily or placebo for 4 weeks each, in double blind, randomized, cross-over fashion. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP (ABP) was measured at the end of a 2-week run-in period (baseline) and after each 4-week intervention period. RESULTS: There was no significant change in ABP during the placebo period on the control diet (n = 28) (-2.3 +/- 1.5/-1.6 +/- 1.0 mm Hg), but there was a significant reduction in systolic ABP (-5.3 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, P <.05) and no change in DBP (-2.5 +/- 1.0 mm Hg) on the DASH diet (n = 27). Losartan significantly reduced ABP on the control diet (-6.7 +/- 1.5/-3.7 +/- 1.0 mm Hg, P <.05) and to a greater extent on the DASH diet (-11.7 +/- 1.5/-6.9 +/- 1.0 mm Hg, P <.05 versus basal and control diet) particularly in African Americans. On the DASH diet, DeltaSBP on losartan was inversely related to basal plasma renin activity (n = -0.53, P =.004). CONCLUSIONS: The DASH diet enhances the ABP response to losartan in essential hypertension. This effect is particularly marked in African Americans.
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