Chinese version of the DASH diet reduces blood pressure Original paper

In this randomized controlled trial in adults in China with high blood pressure, modifying a local diet of Szechuan cuisine to better fit the principles of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension decreased systolic blood pressure.

The effect of a Chinese heart-healthy (CHH) diet versus a local diet on blood pressure and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in participants with high blood pressure.

53 adults (average age of 60; 53% men, 47% women) in China with high blood pressure (systolic blood pressure of 130–159 millimeters of mercury; mmHg).

In this 4-week randomized controlled trial, the participants were assigned to consume 1 of 2 eucaloric diets: a local diet of Szechuan cuisine (the control group) or the CHH diet, which was a modified version of the local diet. The research staff prepared and provided all of the participants’ meals.

The CHH diet contained less sodium (2,471 vs. 5,569 mg/day) and more potassium (4,055 vs. 2,129 mg/day), calcium (983 vs. 412 mg/day), fiber (29.3 vs 12.6 g/day), and magnesium (534 vs. 299 mg/day) than the control diet. The CHH diet also included more fruits, low-fat dairy products, nuts, seafood, soybeans, and whole grains, as well as less red meat, cooking oil (total and animal based), and tubers.

Blood pressure was measured 3 times at each study visit.

Compared with the control group, there was a decrease in systolic blood pressure (−10.1 mmHg) and MAP (−6 mmHg) in the CHH group. Diastolic blood pressure decreased in both groups, and the difference between the groups was not statistically significant.