High-fiber diet improves CV risk factors in hypertension, diabetes
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
A high-fiber, low-glycemia index diet showed a strong protective role against CVD and CV risk reduction in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes, according to findings presented at the ACC Middle East Conference.
Researchers found high-fiber and low-glycemic index diet intake significantly improved brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (P < .0001) as well as systolic BP (P < .0068) and diastolic BP (P < .0001).
Improvements in hypertension were accompanied by improved serum cholesterol (P < .0001), LDL (P < .0001) and waist-hip ratio (P < .0001).
“This study helps us determine three important things for this patient population,” Rohit Kapoor, MD, medical director of Care Well Heart and Super Specialty Hospital in Amritsar, Punjab, India, said in a press release. “Firstly, a high-fiber diet is important in cases of diabetes and hypertension to prevent future cardiovascular disease. Secondly, medical nutrition therapy and regular counseling sessions also hold great importance in treating and prevention of diabetes and hypertension. Thirdly, this type of diet in combination with medical treatment can improve dyslipidemia, pulse wave velocity, waist-to-hip ratio and hypertension.”
In other findings, patients with diabetes showed a significant improvement in HbA1c (P = .0001) as well as fasting glucose (P = .0017)
In 200 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age, 50 years; BMI > 26 kg/m2), researchers observed the effects of dietary factors on the control of hypertension and other CV risk factors for the prevention of CVD. According to the press release, patients were given dietary prescriptions and their intake was tracked for 6 months by either photos of meals sent via WhatsApp, which also helped document portion size, or phone calls three times per week. – by Scott Buzby
Reference: Kapoor R, et al. Abstract P528. Presented at: ACC Middle East Conference; Oct. 3-5, 2019; Dubai, United Arab Emirates.