Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Family Medicine

Background: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is widely promoted in the USA for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure. It is high in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains, but low in saturated fat and refined sugar. Methods: This study was a prospective interventional study, carried out on 120 participants attending the out-patient clinic in Kafr-Alatrash family medicine unit, Sherbeen, Dakahlia, Egypt. Of them 40 were normotensive, 40 were prehypertensive and 40 were hypertensive grade 1 participants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DASH diet on the participant's groups. Blood pressure was measured at the beginning of the study and every two weeks for four months, also weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumference, and waist/hip ratio were measured every four weeks. Results: When the participants were on the DASH diet, systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed: {uF0A7} Significant reduction in prehypertensive and hypertensive groups by (8.1mmHg, 16.4 mmHg, P<0.001) and (5.8 mmHg, 7.4 mmHg, P<0.001) respectively. {uF0A7} Insignificant reduction in normotensive group (3.3 mmHg, 1.1 mmHg, P>0.05) respectively Although the decrease in WT, BMI, WC and W/H ratio was insignificant, P>0.05, there was a minimal reduction by (2.2, 2. 6, 2.7 kg) for weight and by (0.8, 0.9, 1kg/ m²) for BMI among all the study groups respectively. Conclusions: The DASH diet was well tolerated and accepted by participants. It was associated with a significant reduction in blood pressure in (prehypertensive and hypertensive grade 1 groups), and insignificant reduction in normotensive group. Also there was insignificant reduction in WT, BMI, WC and W/H ratio. Adherent to DASH diet for prolonged time may cause better results

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