Mediterranean-Style Diet Improves Systolic Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults: Results of a 1-Year European Multi-Center Trial

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Tex. 1979), 2019-03, Vol.73 (3), p.578-586
• Main Authors: Jennings, Amy, Berendsen, Agnes M, de Groot, Lisette C.P.G.M, Feskens, Edith J.M, Brzozowska, Anna, Sicinska, Ewa, Pietruszka, Barbara, Meunier, Nathalie, Caumon, Elodie, Malpuech-Brugère, Corinne, Santoro, Aurelia, Ostan, Rita, Franceschi, Claudio, Gillings, Rachel, O’ Neill, Colette M, Fairweather-Tait, Sue J, Minihane, Anne-Marie, Cassidy, Aedín
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 0194-911X; 1524-4563
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.12259

We aimed to determine the effect of a Mediterranean-style diet, tailored to meet dietary recommendations for older adults, on blood pressure and arterial stiffness. In 12 months, randomized controlled trial (NU-AGE [New Dietary Strategies Addressing the Specific Needs of Elderly Population for Healthy Aging in Europe]), blood pressure was measured in 1294 healthy participants, aged 65 to 79 years, recruited from 5 European centers, and arterial stiffness in a subset of 225 participants. The intervention group received individually tailored standardized dietary advice and commercially available foods to increase adherence to a Mediterranean diet. The control group continued on their habitual diet and was provided with current national dietary guidance. In the 1142 participants who completed the trial (88.2%), after 1 year the intervention resulted in a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (−5.5 mm Hg; 95% CI, −10.7 to −0.4; P=0.03), which was evident in males (−9.2 mm Hg, P=0.02) but not females (−3.1 mm Hg, P=0.37). The −1.7 mm Hg (95% CI, −4.3 to 0.9) decrease in diastolic pressure after intervention did not reach statistical significance. In a subset (n=225), augmentation index, a measure of arterial stiffness, was improved following intervention (−12.4; 95% CI, −24.4 to −0.5; P=0.04) with no change in pulse wave velocity. The intervention also resulted in an increase in 24-hour urinary potassium (8.8 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.7–16.9; P=0.03) and in male participants (52%) a reduction in pulse pressure (−6.1 mm Hg; 95% CI, −12.0 to −0.2; P=0.04) and 24-hour urinary sodium (−27.1 mmol/L; 95% CI, −53.3 to −1.0; P=0.04). In conclusion, a Mediterranean-style diet is effective in improving cardiovascular health with clinically relevant reductions in blood pressure and arterial stiffness. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION—URLhttp://www.clinicialtrials.gov. Unique identifierNCT01754012.