DASH diet score and distribution of blood pressure in middle-aged men and women.
BACKGROUND
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Trial provides critical data on the impact of a specific diet pattern (low in salt, fat, and processed foods and high in fruit and vegetables) on blood pressure (BP). The effect of compliance with a DASH-type diet on BP in a general population sample is less well defined. We studied associations between a DASH style diet and BP.


METHODS
We used cross-sectional data from a study of men and women aged 47-73 years (n = 2,047). Participants completed a physical examination that included 3 standardized clinical BP recordings. A subsample (n = 1,187) had ambulatory BP measurements (ABPM) taken. Diet was assessed using a DASH dietary score constructed from a standard Food Frequency Questionnaire. Lower scores indicated less healthy diets. Hypertension was defined as clinic BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg on medication or as 24-hour ABPM ≥ 130/80 mmHg.


RESULTS
Inverse associations were evident between DASH and systolic BP (SBP). There was a difference in clinic SBP of 7.5 mm Hg and 5.1 mm Hg and a difference in ABPM SBP of 6.3mm Hg and 5.4mm Hg in men and women, respectively, between the highest and lowest DASH quintiles. In fully adjusted multivariable regression analysis, DASH score was inversely associated with SBP. Clear population differences in SBP were evident across DASH quintiles.


CONCLUSIONS
The observed associations indicate that the findings are consistent with the hypothesis that adherence to DASH-equivalent diet can reduce BP at the population level. Public policy promoting a DASH-style healthy diet could have a significant impact on population health by reducing average BP in the population.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; j.harrington@ucc.ie.
Janas M
JM
Harrington
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;
Anthony P
AP
Fitzgerald
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;
Patricia M
PM
Kearney
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;
Vera J C
VJ
McCarthy
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;
Jamie
J
Madden
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;
Gemma
G
Browne
Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dublin, Ireland.
Eamon
E
Dolan
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland;
Ivan J
IJ
Perry
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis
DASH score; blood pressure; diet quality; hypertension.