Clinical Nutrition

Biography

Biography: Gul Kızıltan

Abstract

The study was conducted on 32 patients (24 women, 8 men) between the ages of 20–64 who were admitted to Atatürk State Hospital diagnosed with prehypertension. For eight weeks, participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups; 1) advice only, 2) DASH eating pattern alone and 3) DASH eating pattern combined with life style modifications. Blood pressure measurements were repeated in the 4^th and 8^th weeks. Some serum biochemical parameters, anthropometric measurements, body compositions and physical activity levels were determined at the baseline after eight weeks of interventions. The nutritional status of the patients was determined by a 24-hour dietary food record. The median of BMI of the patients were 29.05 (26.2-32.05)kg/m². At the beginning of the research, the median of men and women’s systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 130(125–135) mmHg and 85 (82.5–85) mmHg; 130(127.5–135) mmHg and 80(80-85) mmHg, respectively. The DASH diet significantly lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women (p<0.05). DASH eating pattern combined with life style modifications lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in women and just diastolic blood pressure in men (p<0.05). There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between sodium intake and systolic blood pressure measurements (r=0.767, p=0.010). There was a negative and statistically significant correlation between potassium (r=-0.780, p=0.008), magnesium (r=-0.833, p=0.003), iron(r=-0.833, p=0.003), copper (r=-0.793, p=0.006) intake and systolic blood pressure. There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between waist circumference and systolic blood pressure (r=0.699, p=0.025). In conclusion, for patients with prehypertension the DASH diet can lower blood pressure alone or combined with life style modifications.