Higher fat variation of DASH diet lowers blood pressure and triglyceride levels, does not raise LDL cholesterol

A higher fat variation of the DASH diet lowers blood pressure and triglyceride levels and does not raise LDL cholesterol. The study titled “Comparison of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and a higher-fat DASH diet on blood pressure and lipids and lipoproteins: a randomized controlled trial” compared the effects of substituting full-fat for low-fat dairy in the DASH diet on blood pressure and triglyceride levels. The DASH diet was initially created as a means to lower blood pressure and originally included low-fat and non-fat dairy foods.

The researchers tested whether or not blood pressure would improve along with triglyceride levels, if the DASH diet was modified with full-fat dairy foods. The HF-DASH diet (higher fat variation)  included higher saturated fat and lower carbohydrates.

The researchers used a randomized crossover trial of healthy individuals who consumed a control diet, the standard DASH diet, and the modified HF-DASH diet over the course of three weeks. The control diet consisted of less fiber and vegetables and higher red meat, compared to the two DASH diets.

Thirty-six participants completed the three-week trial. Blood pressure reduced similarly in both the DASH and HF-DASH diet, compared to the control diet. The HF-DASH diet was found to reduce triglycerides, compared to the traditional DASH diet. The findings uncover that the HF-DASH diet is an effective alternative to the DASH diet with less stringent fat constraints, which can be applied to more individuals.

DASH diet overview