by Shivam Joshi, Leigh Ettinger and Scott E. Liebman
Abstract:
Hypertension is a global epidemic and a risk factor for many adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and death. Lifestyle plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of hypertension, and guidelines from several organizations recommend lifestyle modifications as first-line intervention for hypertensive patients. Data supporting the use of plant-based diets in the treatment of hypertension goes back almost a century. More recently, clinical trial data, including randomized controlled trials, have established plant-based diets as an effective lifestyle intervention for high blood pressure (BP). Plant-based diets differ from the standard American diet in a myriad of ways, with some substances being present in either substantially higher or lower amounts. Although the precise mechanism of a plant-based diet's beneficial effects on BP is unknown, many of these differences may be responsible. Attributes of a plant-based diet that may lower BP include a lower energy content leading to weight loss, a lower sodium content, an increased potassium content, reduced oxidative stress, higher bioavailability of the vasodilator nitric oxide, and beneficial effects on the microbiome. The evidenced-based benefits of plant-based diets in treating hypertension should lead providers to advocate for this dietary pattern for their patients.
Reference:
Plant-Based Diets and Hypertension (Shivam Joshi, Leigh Ettinger and Scott E. Liebman), In American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, volume 14, 2020.
Bibtex Entry:
@article{doi:10.1177/1559827619875411,
abstract = { Hypertension is a global epidemic and a risk factor for many adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and death. Lifestyle plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of hypertension, and guidelines from several organizations recommend lifestyle modifications as first-line intervention for hypertensive patients. Data supporting the use of plant-based diets in the treatment of hypertension goes back almost a century. More recently, clinical trial data, including randomized controlled trials, have established plant-based diets as an effective lifestyle intervention for high blood pressure (BP). Plant-based diets differ from the standard American diet in a myriad of ways, with some substances being present in either substantially higher or lower amounts. Although the precise mechanism of a plant-based diet's beneficial effects on BP is unknown, many of these differences may be responsible. Attributes of a plant-based diet that may lower BP include a lower energy content leading to weight loss, a lower sodium content, an increased potassium content, reduced oxidative stress, higher bioavailability of the vasodilator nitric oxide, and beneficial effects on the microbiome. The evidenced-based benefits of plant-based diets in treating hypertension should lead providers to advocate for this dietary pattern for their patients. },
author = {Shivam Joshi and Leigh Ettinger and Scott E. Liebman},
date-added = {2023-01-08 14:21:41 +0000},
date-modified = {2023-06-03 19:57:13 +0100},
doi = {10.1177/1559827619875411},
eprint = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619875411},
journal = {American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine},
keywords = {Hypertension, Plant-Based Diet},
number = {4},
pages = {397-405},
title = {Plant-Based Diets and Hypertension},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619875411},
volume = {14},
year = {2020},
bdsk-url-1 = {https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827619875411}}