Blood pressure change with weight loss is affected by diet type in men.
BACKGROUND
Weight loss reduces blood pressure, and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has also been shown to lower blood pressure.


OBJECTIVE
Our goal was to assess the effect on blood pressure of 2 weight-reduction diets: a low-fat diet (LF diet) and a moderate-sodium, high-potassium, high-calcium, low-fat DASH diet (WELL diet).


METHODS
After baseline measurements, 63 men were randomly assigned to either the WELL or the LF diet for 12 wk, and both diet groups undertook 0.5 h of moderate physical activity on most days of the week.


RESULTS
Fifty-four men completed the study. Their mean (+/-SD) age was 47.9 +/- 9.3 y (WELL diet, n = 27; LF diet, n = 27), and their mean baseline home systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 129.4 +/- 11.3 and 80.6 +/- 8.6 mm Hg, respectively. Body weight decreased by 4.9 +/- 0.6 kg (+/-SEM) in the WELL group and by 4.6 +/- 0.6 kg in the LF group (P < 0.001 for both). There was a greater decrease in blood pressure in the WELL group than in the LF group [between-group difference (week 12 -baseline) in both SBP (5.5 +/- 1.9 mm Hg; P = 0.006) and DBP (4.4 +/- 1.2 mm Hg; P = 0.001)].


CONCLUSIONS
For a comparable 5-kg weight loss, a diet high in low-fat dairy products, vegetables, and fruit (the WELL diet) resulted in a greater decrease in blood pressure than did the LF diet. This dietary approach to achieving weight reduction may confer an additional benefit in reducing blood pressure in those who are overweight.
Nowson
Caryl A
CA
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC, Australia. nowson@deakin.edu.au
Worsley
Anthony
A
Margerison
Claire
C
Jorna
Michelle K
MK
Godfrey
Sandra J
SJ
Booth
Alison
A
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004041:Dietary Fats; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D011188:Potassium