Higher consumption of DASH diet may lower maternal diastolic BP during pregnancy: JAHA

Netherlands: Higher maternal consumption of DASH diet by lowers the risk of mid pregnancy diastolic blood pressure in low-risk pregnant population, suggests a recent study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Further, it was also associated with a lower mid‐ and late pregnancy umbilical artery vascular resistance but not with uteroplacental vascular resistance, ystolic blood pressure, or the risk of gestational hypertensive disorders.

About 10% of the pregnant women are affected by gestational hypertensive disorders and are a major risk factor for neonatal and maternal mortality and morbidity. In non-pregnant women dietary intervention has been shown to be an important strategy for hypertension reduction. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is a diet high in vegetables, fruits, nuts, total grains, legumes, seeds and on‐full‐fat dairy products and low in animal protein, sugar, and sodium. 

Multiple observation and intervention studies have demonstrated DASH diet to be associated with lower blood pressure and improved glucose concentrations and lipid profile in nonpregnant adult populations. Considering this, Romy Gaillard, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and colleagues hypothesized that maternal adherence to DASH diet during pregnancy improves hemodynamic adaptations, leading to a lower risk of gestational hypertensive disorders.

For the purpose, the researchers examined the association of DASH diet score with blood pressure, placental hemodynamics, and gestational hypertensive disorders in a population‐based cohort study among 3414 Dutch women. DASH score was assessed using food-frequency questionnaires. Blood pressure was measured in early‐, mid‐, and late pregnancy (12.9, 20.4, and 30.2 weeks gestation respectively), and placental hemodynamics in mid‐ and late pregnancy (20.5, 30.4 weeks gestation respectively). Information on gestational hypertensive disorders was obtained from medical records. 

Researchers concluded that in a low‐risk population, maternal adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet during pregnancy is associated with a lower mid pregnancy diastolic blood pressure and tends to be associated with improved fetoplacental vascular function.

"Further studies need to assess whether the effects of the DASH diet on gestational hemodynamic adaptations are more pronounced among higher‐risk populations," concluded the authors. 

The study titled, "Associations of DASH Diet in Pregnancy With Blood Pressure Patterns, Placental Hemodynamics, and Gestational Hypertensive Disorders," is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

DOI: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.120.017503