Researchers suggest diet could improve blood pressure, sugar levels: study

Adults who are overweight or obese and have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes are at higher risk of developing serious health problems, according to a study. However, experts disagree on the best dietary regimens and supportive measures that can be suggested. The study was published in the journal ‘The Annals of Family Medicine’. In these findings, the researchers used a 2 x 2 supportive diet factorial design to randomize 94 adults with the aforementioned conditions, contrasting a very-low-carbohydrate (VLC) or ketogenic diet with a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet. (DASH).

They also determined the results of interventions that included and excluded additional supportive practices such as mindful eating, effective emotion regulation, social support, and cooking instruction.

Using intention-to-treat analysis, the VLC diet led to a greater improvement in estimated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP; -9.8 mmHg vs -5.2 mmHg, P = 0.046), a greater improvement in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c; -0.4 percent vs -0.1 percent, P = 0.034), and greater improvement in weight (-19.14 pounds vs -10.33 pounds, P = 0.0003) , compared to the DASH diet.

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The addition of additional support did not have a statistically significant effect on the results. For adults with hypertension, prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes, and who are overweight or obese, a VLC diet demonstrated greater improvements in systolic blood pressure, glycemic control, and weight over a four-month period compared with a DASH diet.

What we know: Nearly half (47 percent) of adults in the United States have high blood pressure and about half have prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. About 42 percent of adults in the United States are also obese. These conditions can trigger stroke, end-stage renal disease, heart attack, and premature death. Although the first-line treatment for these people should be a diet and lifestyle intervention, experts disagree on which diet should be recommended.

What this study adds: For adults who are overweight or obese, have hypertension, as well as prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, a very-low-carbohydrate diet showed greater improvements in systolic blood pressure, glycemic control, and weight over a four-year period. months compared to a DASH diet.