DASH Diet for Heart Failure

Overseen By Elisabeth LP Sattler, PhD, RPh

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Georgia

Disqualifiers: Renal disease, Dementia, Alzheimer's, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet) affects people with heart failure. The goal is to determine if this diet can reduce hospital visits and improve health for these patients. Participants will either follow the DASH diet or maintain their usual eating habits for a short period. Individuals who have had heart failure for some time, live near Emory University, and have a specific heart monitoring device might be suitable candidates.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance dietary recommendations for heart failure patients.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems likely that you can continue your existing heart failure treatment, as the study focuses on diet.

What prior data suggests that the DASH diet is safe for heart failure patients?

Research has shown that the DASH diet is generally safe for most people. Studies have found that it can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart issues, such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, and stroke, by up to 29%. The diet has few reported side effects. However, limited information exists about its long-term safety. As a result, experts cannot make final conclusions about its long-term effects, but it appears to be well-tolerated so far. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the DASH Diet for heart failure because it offers a non-pharmaceutical approach to managing the condition. Traditional treatments for heart failure often include medications like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and diuretics, which aim to improve heart function and manage symptoms. However, the DASH Diet emphasizes dietary changes that focus on reducing sodium intake and increasing nutrients like potassium and magnesium. This method could potentially improve heart health by naturally lowering blood pressure and promoting overall cardiovascular health, offering a complementary approach to existing medication regimens.

What evidence suggests that the DASH diet might be an effective treatment for heart failure?

This trial will compare the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet with a usual diet for individuals with heart failure. Research has shown that the DASH diet benefits people with heart failure. Studies have found that this diet lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, crucial for heart health. It may also reduce the risk of developing heart failure, especially in those under 75. Additionally, the DASH diet can decrease certain blood markers indicating heart stress and inflammation. Overall, the DASH diet emphasizes eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while reducing salt and unhealthy fats, supporting heart health. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older adults aged 65 and over who have heart failure. They must be able to attend four study visits at Emory GCRC and discuss their diet six times during the 12-week study. The trial seeks a total of 38 participants from specific Emory healthcare locations.

Inclusion Criteria

Residence within 50 miles of Emory University

I've been on heart failure treatment for over 3 months after getting a CardioMEMS device.

Have undergone hemodynamic monitoring device implantation (CardioMEMS, Abbott)

Exclusion Criteria

Expected survival < 12 months

Limited English literacy and communication skills

My kidney function is severely reduced.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person or phone)

Dietary Intervention

Participants are randomized to eat only the DASH diet provided to them for 4 weeks

4 weeks

4 visits (in-person)

Control Phase

Participants follow their usual diet for 4 weeks

4 weeks

Dietary consumption assessed 6 times

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet

Trial Overview

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet's impact on heart failure in seniors is being tested. Participants will follow this special diet strictly for one period of four weeks, either at the start or end of the study, with their health changes monitored closely.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Usual Diet Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Georgia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

109

Recruited

43,500+

Emory University

Collaborator

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 329 participants showed that following the DASH diet for 8 weeks resulted in significant changes in serum concentrations of 44 metabolites compared to a control diet and a fruit and vegetables diet, indicating the diet's impact on metabolic health.

The research identified a specific panel of 10 metabolites that can effectively distinguish adherence to the DASH diet, suggesting potential for these metabolites to be used as biomarkers for dietary assessment in cardiovascular health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Serum untargeted metabolomic profile of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern. Rebholz, CM., Lichtenstein, AH., Zheng, Z., et al.[2023]

The DASH diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, nuts, and low-fat dairy while reducing saturated fats, led to an average reduction of 6 mmHg in systolic and 3 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure among patients, with even greater reductions in those with high blood pressure.

These significant blood pressure reductions were observed within just 2 weeks of starting the diet, indicating its potential effectiveness for managing hypertension in a primary care setting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) in clinical practice: a primary care experience. Kolasa, KM.[2020]

In a study of 36,019 women aged 48 to 83, those who closely followed the DASH diet had a 37% lower rate of heart failure (HF) over 7 years compared to those who did not, even after adjusting for various health and lifestyle factors.

The results suggest that adherence to the DASH diet is linked to a significant reduction in the risk of heart failure, indicating its potential as a preventive dietary approach for heart health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Consistency with the DASH diet and incidence of heart failure. Levitan, EB., Wolk, A., Mittleman, MA.[2021]

Adherence to the DASH diet is linked to a lower risk of developing heart failure (HF) in a diverse population of adults aged 45 and older, with significant reductions in risk observed in those under 75 years old.

The study analyzed data from the REGARDS cohort, finding that individuals in higher DASH diet score quartiles had a reduced hazard ratio for incident HF, indicating that a healthier diet may help prevent heart failure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet Pattern and Incident Heart Failure. Goyal, P., Balkan, L., Ringel, JB., et al.[2023]

Heart failure (HF) patients often face complex challenges due to deranged physiology and malnutrition, making effective nutritional strategies crucial for their care.

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet may be particularly beneficial for HF patients, as it aligns with the need for a dietary program that supports both nutritional needs and HF management goals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Review of the DASH Diet as an Optimal Dietary Plan for Symptomatic Heart Failure. Rifai, L., Silver, MA.[2019]

The OmniHeart study is a randomized crossover trial involving 160 adults with prehypertension or Stage 1 hypertension, designed to compare the effects of a carbohydrate-rich diet with diets high in protein or unsaturated fat on blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The study aims to provide insights into how different macronutrient compositions can influence cardiovascular risk factors, potentially guiding dietary recommendations for better heart health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rationale and design of the Optimal Macro-Nutrient Intake Heart Trial to Prevent Heart Disease (OMNI-Heart). Carey, VJ., Bishop, L., Charleston, J., et al.[2017]

The DASH diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, has been shown to effectively lower blood pressure in individuals with prehypertension and stage I hypertension, based on findings from the DASH trial.

While the DASH diet is generally safe for most patients, caution is advised for those with chronic kidney or liver diseases, and modifications may be needed for individuals with chronic heart failure, uncontrolled diabetes, lactose intolerance, or celiac disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern in special populations. Tyson, CC., Nwankwo, C., Lin, PH., et al.[2021]

A study of 2,831 adults in Iran found that adherence to the DASH diet is associated with lower levels of cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol.

Specifically, individuals in the highest quintile of DASH diet adherence had a 28% lower odds of hyperglycemia, suggesting that the DASH diet may be effective in reducing the risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Association between DASH Diet Adherence and Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Shoaibinobarian, N., Danehchin, L., Mozafarinia, M., et al.[2023]

Citations

1.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482514/

DASH Diet To Stop Hypertension - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

The diet has been tested in several clinical trials and has been shown to lower cholesterol, saturated fats, and blood pressure.

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10551663/

DASH Diet: A Review of Its Scientifically Proven Hypertension ...

Moreover, adopting the DASH dietary pattern has been associated with a diminished incidence of heart failure in individuals under 75 years of ...

3.

ahajournals.org

ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.122.026684?doi=10.1161/JAHA.122.026684

Effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension ...

In comparison with a typical American diet, the DASH diet reduced high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin I and hs‐CRP progressively over 12 weeks.

4.

mayoclinic.org

mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456

DASH diet: Healthy eating to lower your blood pressure

The DASH diet is a healthy-eating plan designed to help prevent or treat high blood pressure, also called hypertension.

5.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749379718324486

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet ...

High concordance to a DASH diet, as indicated by the quintile score, was associated with a lower risk of developing HF in MESA participants under age 75 years.

6.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8396128/

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet ...

Compared to the lowest quartile, individuals in the 2nd-4th DASH diet score quartiles had lower risk for incident HF after adjustment for sociodemographic and ...

7.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40326569/

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) for the ...

Although the DASH diet has minimal reported adverse effects, the absence of long-term safety data prevents definitive conclusions on its use in ...

8.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0899900713000075

Effects of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH ...

Our results showed that a DASH-like diet can significantly protect against CVDs, CHD, stroke, and HF risk by 20%, 21%, 19% and 29%, respectively.

9.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00939640

Effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension ...

The investigators hypothesize that the DASH/SRD will have favorable effects on oxidative stress, ventricular and vascular function, and blood pressure control ...