Effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Eating Plan on Cardiovascular Risks Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern on cardiometabolic risks in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A randomized crossover clinical trial was undertaken in 31 type 2 diabetic patients. For 8 weeks, participants were randomly assigned to a control diet or the DASH eating pattern. RESULTS After following the DASH eating pattern, body weight (P = 0.007) and waist circumference (P = 0.002) reduced significantly. Fasting blood glucose levels and A1C decreased after adoption of the DASH diet (-29.4 ± 6.3 mg/dl; P = 0.04 and -1.7 ± 0.1%; P = 0.04, respectively). After the DASH diet, the mean change for HDL cholesterol levels was higher (4.3 ± 0.9 mg/dl; P = 0.001) and LDL cholesterol was reduced (-17.2 ± 3.5 mg/dl; P = 0.02). Additionally, DASH had beneficial effects on systolic (-13.6 ± 3.5 vs. -3.1 ± 2.7 mmHg; P = 0.02) and diastolic blood pressure (-9.5 ± 2.6 vs. -0.7 ± 3.3 mmHg; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Among diabetic patients, the DASH diet had beneficial effects on cardiometabolic risks.