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Healthy diet containing lean beef may have positive effect on BP
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A moderate protein diet based on the DASH diet was associated with lower BP in a recent study.
Researchers conducted a four-part, crossover study to evaluate the impact of different isocaloric diets. The study included 36 normotensive participants aged 30 to 65 years. Each of the four diets studied focused on high consumption of fruits, vegetables and lean meat.
- A “healthy American diet,” including 33% total fat, 12% saturated fatty acids, 17% protein and 20 g lean beef per day.
- A Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, featuring 27% total fat, 6% saturated fatty acids, 18% protein and 28 g lean beef per day.
- A Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD), including 28% total fat, 6% saturated fatty acids, 19% protein and 113 g lean beef per day.
- A BOLD+ diet, featuring 28% total fat, 6% saturated fatty acids, 27% protein and 153 g lean beef per day.
Participants were randomly assigned one of the four diets for 5 weeks, before switching to another diet for 5 weeks after a brief break that lasted an average of 1 week. Clinical and physical evaluations were performed at baseline and after each diet period.
Compared with the healthy American diet, participants assigned the BOLD+ diet experienced a significant decrease in systolic BP (P<.01). The same was not observed among patients assigned the BOLD or DASH diets. None of the diets studied was associated with a significant impact on diastolic BP or endothelial function.
Augmentation index decreased significantly among patients assigned the BOLD diet (–4.1%) compared with the other three diets. Researchers observed a significant interaction between participant age and diet related to augmentation index.
In secondary analysis of participants grouped according to age as a CVD risk factor (women, ≥55 years; men, ≥45 years), the effect on augmentation from the BOLD diet was significantly reduced only among younger participants.
“This research adds to the significant evidence, including work previously done in our lab, that supports lean beef’s role in a heart-healthy diet,” Penny M. Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State, said in a press release. “This study shows that nutrient-rich lean beef can be included as part of a heart-healthy diet that reduces BP, which can help lower the risk for CVD.”
Disclosure: See the full study for a list of the researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.
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