Potassium2026-07

Effectiveness of the DASH Diet Versus Alternative Dietary Interventions for Hypertension Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Valenzuela-Fuenzalida Juan José, Trujillo-Riveros Martin, Vega Javiera Schwember, Diaz Constanza Avalos- et al. — Current problems in cardiology

Summary

The DASH diet is widely recommended for blood pressure control, but this comprehensive review compared its effectiveness against other structured eating plans. While DASH did not show a significant advantage over other diets for lowering blood pressure, it did demonstrate benefits for other important heart health markers like cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

AI-generated summary — read the original

Key points

The DASH diet is a well-known eating plan often recommended for blood pressure control.
This study compared the DASH diet's effectiveness against other structured dietary interventions.
DASH did not show a significant advantage in lowering blood pressure compared to these alternative diets.
However, it did consistently improve other important health markers like LDL cholesterol and blood sugar.

What the study looked at

### What question the study asked Researchers wanted to determine if the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet was more effective at lowering blood pressure and improving other heart-related health markers compared to other specific dietary interventions. ### How it was studied This was a systematic review and meta-analysis, meaning the scientists gathered and analyzed data from 22 previously published randomized controlled trials. These trials involved adults with elevated blood pressure or diagnosed hypertension, comparing the DASH diet to other structured diets or usual care. ### What it found The study concluded that the DASH diet, while beneficial, did not significantly outperform other structured diets in reducing systolic or diastolic blood pressure. However, it did show consistent improvements in other important health indicators, such as lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol, reducing blood sugar levels (HbA1c), and increasing potassium excretion, which suggests a higher potassium intake.

Dietary takeaway

While this review suggests the DASH diet isn't uniquely superior for blood pressure reduction compared to other diets, its benefits for cholesterol and blood sugar are still significant. The DASH diet naturally encourages a higher intake of potassium through foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which are generally beneficial for overall heart health. Remember, this is one synthesis of studies, and individual dietary needs can vary, so always consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is widely recommended for blood pressure control; however, its comparative effectiveness relative to other structured dietary interventions remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the DASH diet versus alternative dietary interventions on blood pressure and cardiometabolic outcomes in adults. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Multiple databases were searched from inception to February 2026. Eligible studies included adults with elevated blood pressure or hypertension comparing the DASH diet with other dietary interventions or usual care. Continuous outcomes were pooled using random-effects models and expressed as mean differences (MD) or standardized mean differences (SMD). Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool, and certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: A total of 22 randomized controlled trials were included in the qualitative synthesis, of which 10 were included in the meta-analysis. The DASH diet did not demonstrate a statistically significant advantage over comparator diets in reducing systolic blood pressure (MD = 1.30; 95% CI: -1.54 to 4.14) or diastolic blood pressure (MD = 0.21; 95% CI: -3.72 to 4.14), with substantial heterogeneity observed across studies. Significant effects were identified for selected cardiometabolic outcomes, including reductions in urinary sodium excretion (MD = -32.89; 95% CI: -62.76 to -3.01), LDL cholesterol (MD = -8.59; 95% CI: -14.64 to -2.54), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (MD = -0.49; 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.46), as well as an increase in urinary potassium excretion (MD = 11.76; 95% CI: 4.08 to 19.44). The certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to very low across outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The DASH diet was not superior to other dietary interventions in reducing blood pressure; however, it demonstrated consistent benefits in selected cardiometabolic parameters. Given the overall low certainty of evidence and substantial heterogeneity, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Future research should focus on well-designed trials with standardized outcomes and longer follow-up to clarify comparative effectiveness.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2026.103397