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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Apr;152(4):494-501.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.09.022. Epub 2007 Nov 5.

The efficacy of a clinic-based behavioral nutrition intervention emphasizing a DASH-type diet for adolescents with elevated blood pressure

Sarah C Couch  1 , Brian E Saelens, Linda Levin, Katie Dart, Grace Falciglia, Stephen R Daniels
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The efficacy of a clinic-based behavioral nutrition intervention emphasizing a DASH-type diet for adolescents with elevated blood pressure

Sarah C Couch et al. J Pediatr. 2008 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the efficacy of a 3-month clinic-based behavioral nutrition intervention emphasizing a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy (DASH intervention) versus routine outpatient hospital-based nutrition care (RC) on diet and blood pressure (BP) in adolescents with elevated BP.

Study design: Fifty-seven adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of prehypertension or hypertension (systolic BP or diastolic BP, 90(th) to 99(th) percentile) were randomly assigned to DASH or RC. SBP, DBP, 3-day diet recall, weight, and height were assessed at pretreatment, post-treatment, and 3 months later (follow-up).

Results: In completer analysis, DASH versus RC had a greater decrease in SBP z scores from baseline to post-treatment (P < 0.01) and a trend for a greater decrease in SBP z scores from baseline through follow-up (P = .07). DBP z scores changed similarly for conditions from baseline through follow-up. Relative to RC, DASH had a greater increase in intake of fruits (P < .001), potassium and magnesium (P < .01), and a greater decrease in total fat (P < .05) from baseline to post-treatment. From baseline through follow-up, DASH versus RC had a greater increase in low fat dairy (P < .001).

Conclusions: The DASH intervention proved more effective than RC in improving SBP and diet quality in adolescents with elevated BP.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00431288.

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