Dietary Patterns, Sodium Reduction, and Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetes: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension for Diabetes (DASH4D) Randomized Clinical Trial
Primary result · End-of-period systolic blood pressureResult — go to the resultReduction 4.6 mm Hg 95% CI 7.2–2.0Authors' conclusion
This randomized clinical trial found that, for adults with type 2 diabetes, most of whom were treated with multiple antihypertensive medications, the DASH4D diet combined with sodium reduction achieved a clinically relevant reduction in blood pressure, primarily from sodium reduction.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with type 2 diabetes, a systolic blood pressure of 120 to 159 mm Hg, and a diastolic blood pressure of less than 100 mm Hg85 (83.3%) completed all diet periods
- Participants
- 102 adults
- Comparison
- The DASH4D lower sodium diet vs a comparison higher sodium diet
- Primary endpoint
- End-of-period systolic blood pressure
- Follow-up
- End of each 5-week period
Methodological detailscommunity-based study center, all food provided, weight held constant
- Community-based study center
- All food provided
- Weight held constant
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Reduction
4.6 mm Hg
95% CI 7.2–2.0
P < 0.001
Secondary outcomes
| Outcome | Reduction (mm Hg) (95% CI) |
|---|---|
| End-of-period diastolic blood pressure (secondary) · end of each 5-week periodDASH4D diet with lower sodium vs comparison diet with higher sodium · reduced with DASH4D lower sodium | 2.3 (3.7–0.9) |
Timing and source of blood pressure reduction
- Most blood pressure reduction occurred during the first 3 weeks of each diet
- The effect of sodium reduction appeared stronger than the effect of the DASH4D diet
Original publication
Dietary Patterns, Sodium Reduction, and Blood Pressure in Type 2 Diabetes: The DASH4D Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. Published 1 August 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it