Background and purpose:

the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has multifunctional health benefits. We evaluated the effects of low-sodium salt applied to Chinese modified DASH diet on arterial stiffness in older patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

sixty-one older adults with hypertension and type 2 diabetes were randomly allocated to low sodium salt group (n= 31) or normal sodium salt group (n= 30). They were given the Chinese modified DASH diet plus low-sodium salt (52 % sodium chloride) or same diet plus regular salt (99 % sodium chloride) for eight weeks, respectively. Brachial and ankle pulse wave conduction velocity, ankle brachial index and atherosclerosis-related indices were measured at baseline and week 8. In addition, 24-hour urine and blood samples were measured at baseline, the 4thweek and the end of the intervention.

Results:

as compared with the baseline, the low sodium salt group significantly decreased in ankle brachial index (-0.09 ± 0.11, p< 0.001) and brachial and ankle pulse wave conduction velocity (-133.07 ± 265.99 cm/s, p= 0.010) at week 8 while the normal sodium salt group only decreased significantly in ankle brachial index (-0.06 ± 0.12, p= 0.010) at week 8.

Conclusion:

the low-sodium salt applied to Chinese modified DASH diet may improve arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Further research with an extended follow-up is needed.

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