The Dash Diet Pattern and Blood Pressure Changes in US Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes – a Post-hoc Analysis of the Blueberry Consumption and Type 2 Diabetes Study

OBJECTIVES: The goals of nutrition therapy for adults with type 2 diabetes include promoting healthful eating patterns and supporting improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors. Hypertension, which is a risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure, is common in persons with diabetes. There is limited data on the relationship between the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and blood pressure in US veterans with type 2 diabetes. The primary objective of the study is to determine the effect of the DASH diet pattern on blood pressure in US veterans. METHODS: A secondary analysis from the Blueberry Consumption and Type 2 Diabetes study (NCT02972996, clinicaltrials.gov) was conducted in fifty-two men (mean ± SD baseline characteristics: 67 ± 6 years; weight, 102 ± 14 kg; body mass index, 34 ± 4 kg/m(2); systolic blood pressure, 129 ± 17 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure, 76 ± 8 mmHg; hemoglobin A1c, 7.3 ± 0.8%) with type 2 diabetes. DASH diet patterns for six nutrients (protein, total fat, calcium, potassium, sodium and fiber) were collected by three-day food records. DASH diet scores were created by summing the scores for the six nutrients. Baseline blood pressure was collected according to standard protocol and used for the analysis. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the association between the DASH diet score and blood pressure. RESULTS: In multiple linear regression analysis, adjusted for age, body mass index and comorbid conditions, a higher DASH score was associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure (β = −5.96; P = 0.026) but not diastolic blood pressure (β = −1.65; P = 0.169). For every one unit increase in the DASH score, the estimated mean systolic blood pressure decreased by approximately 6.0 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that adherence to the DASH diet pattern is associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure in men who are US veterans with type 2 diabetes. The results should be verified by randomized clinical trials evaluating the effects of the DASH diet on blood pressure in adults with type 2 diabetes. FUNDING SOURCES: The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council; the study is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA.