title: Dietary interventions and blood pressure in Latin America - systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High blood pressure is the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Low blood pressure control rates in Latin American populations emphasize the need for gathering evidence on effective therapies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of dietary interventions on blood pressure in Latin American populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review. Electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO, LILACS and VHL) were searched and manual search for studies published up to April 2013 was performed. Parallel studies about dietary interventions in Latin American adult populations assessing arterial blood pressure (mm Hg) before and after intervention were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 405 studies identified, 10 randomized controlled trials were included and divided into 3 subgroups according to the proposed dietary intervention. There was a non-significant reduction in systolic blood pressure in the subgroups of mineral replacement (-4.82; 95% CI: -11.36 to 1.73) and complex pattern diets (-3.17; 95% CI: -7.62 to 1.28). Regarding diastolic blood pressure, except for the hyperproteic diet subgroup, all subgroups showed a significant reduction in blood pressure: -4.66 mmHg (95% CI: -9.21 to -0.12) and -4.55 mmHg (95% CI: -7.04 to -2.06) for mineral replacement and complex pattern diets, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Available evidence on the effects of dietary changes on blood pressure in Latin American populations indicates a homogeneous effect of those interventions, although not significant for systolic blood pressure. Samples were small and the quality of the studies was generally low. Larger studies are required to build robust evidence.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Caroline Cantalejo
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Mazzaro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Flávia Caroline
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Klostermann
authors.affiliation: Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Bruna Olandoski
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Erbano
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nicolle Amboni
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Schio
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luiz César
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Guarita-Souza
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olandoski
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Rocha
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Faria-Neto
authors.affiliation: Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cristina Pellegrino
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Baena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult