Hypertension

A Predominantly Plant-Based Diet Can Help to Lower Blood Pressure

Following a plant-based diet, even one including small amounts of meat and dairy, can help to lower blood pressure (BP), according to the results of a recent study.

While it has been shown that strict vegetarian diets are associated with lower BP, whether these benefits are also seen with less strict vegetarian diets is less clear.

To examine this further, the researchers conducted an analysis of data from clinical trials examining the effects of plant-based diets (PBD) on BP. They identified 790 studies, of which 41 were included in their analysis. PBDs included in the analysis were the Healthy Nordic diet, High-fruit and vegetable diet, High-fiber diet, Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, DAH diet, Mediterranean diet, and the Vegan diet.

Overall, they found that PBDs were associated with lower systolic BP compared with a control diet. Specifically:

  • DASH diet: −5.53 mmHg (95% confidence intervals −7.95, –3.12)
  • Mediterranean diet:  −0.95 mmHg (95% confidence intervals –1.70, –0.20),
  • Vegan diet: −1.30 mmHg (95% confidence intervals –3.90, 1.29)
  • Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet: −5.47 mmHg (95% confidence intervals –7.60, – 3.34)
  • Healthy Nordic diet −4.47 mmHg (95% confidence intervals –7.14, –1.81)
  • High-fiber diet: −0.65 mmHg (95% confidence intervals –1.83, 0.53)
  • High-fruit and vegetable diet −0.57 mmHg (95% confidence intervals –7.45, 6.32)
     

“This is a significant finding as it highlights that complete eradication of animal products is not necessary to produce reductions and improvements in blood pressure. Essentially, any shift towards a plant-based diet is a good one,” the researchers said in an accompanying press release.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

  1. Gibbs J, Gaskin E, Ji C, et al. The effect of plant-based dietary patterns on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled intervention trials. Published online July 23, 2020. Hypertension. doi:10.1097/HJH0000000000002604
  2. Plant-based diets shown to lower blood pressure even with limited meat and dairy. News release. Coventry, UK: University of Warwick; July 25, 2020. https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/plant-based_diets_shown