Effect of a Heart-Targeted Dietary Program on Blood Pressure: Summary Data and a Series of Case Reports

One-third of the United States adult population has hypertension, of which only about half are well controlled. Besides obesity, the over-consumption of sodium and the lack of potassium in the diet are the major causes of high blood pressure. We explored the effect of a heart-targeted dietary program, consisting of three nutrient-dense foods, which provided nearly 100% of the daily need for each vitamin and mineral, except sodium and chloride. Over two months, seven hypertensive and obese participants (one was normal weight) followed the dietary program. In exchange for free food and a blood pressure monitoring device, participants provided weekly, self-reported information about blood pressure, body weight, and quality of life indicators. The mean morning blood pressure readings decreased at week 4, and by week 8 had a better lowering effect than anti-hypertensive of 10-20%. The heart-targeted dietary program produced more of a lowering effect than the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which is the main dietary treatment of hypertension. At the end of the study, systolic blood pressure was 3 to 5 times lower than the DASH diet, and the diastolic pressure was 4 to 6 times lower. Average weight loss was 8 kg, and there was a decrease in 3 Body Mass Index units (kg/m2). Indicators of quality of life improved for summaries of physical function and mental health as a comparison to a healthy population. In addition, other things improved such as having a better overall feeling of wellbeing, having more energy, and eating a better diet. New approaches are needed to lower blood pressure. Drugs take longer to become effective (3 months or longer), are more costly than dietary management, and have side effects not seen with a dietary intervention. Compared to individuals without hypertension, those with it have higher annual prescription medication costs ($2,371 vs. $814) and total medical expenditures ($9,089 vs. $4,172). The DASH is less effective than the targeted-heart program and recommends foods that are not usually consumed. The heart-targeted dietary program includes foods that the participants enjoyed, and replaced as their regular meals, rather than being additive. A homecooked meal costs about $9.31, with $4.31 for the food and $5.00 for labor; each nutrient-dense meal costs about $2.75 per serving. The heart-targeted dietary program may offer a more effective, less expensive, faster approach to treating hypertension than either pharmaceuticals or the DASH diet.