Low-Sodium DASH Diet Improves Heart Function

ANN ARBOR, Mich.The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, low in sodium and high in high potassium, magnesium, calcium and antioxidants, can dramatically lower hypertension and improve heart function in patients with a common type of heart failure, according to research published in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure.

Researchers at the University of Michigan gave participants foods that matched a low-sodium DASH eating plan for 21 days. The participants, heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction, also known as diastolic" heart failure, saw a drop in blood pressure similar to taking anti-hypertension medicine.

The DASH diet contained a daily sodium intake of no more than 1,150 milligrams, which is much lower than what adults in the United States usually eatabout 4,200 mg a day for men, and 3,300 mg a day for women. Other characteristics of the diet include high potassium, magnesium, calcium and antioxidants.

Diastolic heart failure happens when the heart becomes stiff and does not pump out enough blood. The condition is found in  more than half of older adults with heart failure. Although taking diuretics to help the body get rid of extra fluid is useful, this type of heart failure has no standard treatment. After the DASH diet, patients experienced improved left ventricular relaxation and reduced diastolic chamber stiffness, meaning a more efficient transfer of blood between the heart and arteries, said Scott Hummel, M.D., cardiologist at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center. 

There are many nutrition tips linked to reduced risk of heart disease, including a diet high in fiber and diet incorporating olive oil, fish, complex carbohydrates and nuts, known as the Mediterranean diet. It's even been said a pint of beer can benefit heart health by increasing flexibility and blood flow in major arteries around the heart.