Effects of recommendations to follow the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet v. usual dietary advice on childhood metabolic syndrome: a randomised cross-over clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the effects of the DASH diet, which includes low-fat dairy, compared to usual dietary advice on metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in adolescent girls.
Results Summary
The DASH diet, which included low-fat dairy, led to a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure, serum insulin levels, and prevalence of metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure compared to usual dietary advice. Changes in weight, waist circumference, and BMI were not significantly different between the two groups.
Population
Post-pubescent adolescent girls with metabolic syndrome (mean age 14.2 years, mean BMI 27.3 kg/m²).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (dietary recommendations included low-fat dairy as part of the DASH diet).
Duration
6 weeks per intervention phase, with a 4-week washout period.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
recommendations to follow the DASH diet | increase | Serum vitamin C levels | post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS | 860 (SE 104) v. 663 (SE 76) ng/l | tended to be higher | #1 |
recommendations to follow the DASH diet v. usual dietary advice (UDA) | no change | Changes in weight, waist circumference and BMI | post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS | - | were not significantly different | #2 |
recommendations to follow the DASH diet v. usual dietary advice (UDA) | no change | changes in systolic blood pressure | post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS | - | were not statistically significant | #3 |
recommendations to follow the DASH diet | decrease | diastolic blood pressure | post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS | - | prevented the increase | #4 |
recommendations to follow the DASH diet | decrease | serum insulin levels | post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS | 101.4 (SE 6.2) v. 90.0 (SE 5.5) pmol/l | significant within-group decrease | #5 |
recommendations to follow the DASH diet | decrease | homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance score | post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS | - | non-significant reduction | #6 |
recommendations to follow the DASH diet | decrease | prevalence of the MetS and high blood pressure | post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS | - | significant reduction | #7 |
recommendations to follow the DASH eating pattern for 6 weeks | decrease | high blood pressure and the MetS | adolescent girls with the MetS | - | led to reduced prevalence | #8 |
recommendations to follow the DASH eating pattern for 6 weeks | increase | diet quality | adolescent girls with the MetS | - | improved | #9 |
The effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan on childhood metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance remain to be determined. The present study aimed to assess the effects of recommendations to follow the DASH diet v. usual dietary advice (UDA) on the MetS and its features in adolescents. In this randomised cross-over clinical trial, sixty post-pubescent adolescent girls with the MetS were randomly assigned to receive either the recommendations to follow the DASH diet or UDA for 6 weeks. After a 4-week washout period, the participants were crossed over to the alternate arm. The DASH group was recommended to consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and low in saturated fats, total fats and cholesterol. UDA consisted of general oral advice and written information about healthy food choices based on healthy MyPlate. Compliance was assessed through the quantification of plasma vitamin C levels. In both the groups, fasting venous blood samples were obtained at baseline and at the end of each phase of the intervention. The mean age and weight of the participants were 14.2 (SD 1.7) years and 69 (SD 14.5) kg, respectively. Their mean BMI and waist circumference were 27.3 kg/m2 and 85.6 cm, respectively. Serum vitamin C levels tended to be higher in the DASH phase than in the UDA phase (860 (SE 104) v. 663 (SE 76) ng/l, respectively, P= 0.06). Changes in weight, waist circumference and BMI were not significantly different between the two intervention phases. Although changes in systolic blood pressure were not statistically significant between the two groups (P= 0.13), recommendations to follow the DASH diet prevented the increase in diastolic blood pressure compared with UDA (P= 0.01). We found a significant within-group decrease in serum insulin levels (101.4 (SE 6.2) v. 90.0 (SE 5.5) pmol/l, respectively, P= 0.04) and a non-significant reduction in the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance score (P= 0.12) in the DASH group. Compared with the UDA group, the DASH group experienced a significant reduction in the prevalence of the MetS and high blood pressure. Recommendations to follow the DASH eating pattern for 6 weeks among adolescent girls with the MetS led to reduced prevalence of high blood pressure and the MetS and improved diet quality compared with UDA. This type of healthy diet can be considered as a treatment modality for the MetS and its components in children.