Dietary Intervention to Improve Blood Pressure Control: Beyond Salt Restriction

Lifestyle improvement is a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease prevention and has a relevant effect on blood pressure control. During the last decades the attention of the researcher has focused on low-salt diets as the lifestyle modification most effective in blood pressure reduction. Current international guidelines thus suggest to stress the importance of the implementation of the dietary approach to stop hypertension (DASH) diet and of a low-salt Mediterranean diet to achieve the best results in term of blood pressure decrease. However, salt reduction in diet could be not the only nor the main determinant of blood pressure reduction under dietary treatment. DASH and low-salt Mediterranean diet are also characterized by a high intake of vegetables (NO and polyphenol sources), whole grains, some low-fat dairy products, and low intake of red meat, sugar, and trans-hydrogenated fats. Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet are also per se associated to a significant improvement in blood pressure levels. Moreover, these diets are particularly effective when associated with a significant weight loss. Furthermore, blood pressure can also be lowered by some nutraceuticals (beetroot, magnesium, vitamin C, catechin-rich beverages, lycopene, etc). The aim of this narrative review is to critically resume the most recent evidence supporting a complete approach to dietary counseling for hypertension prevention and management.

Automated summary

Lifestyle improvements play a crucial role in preventing cardiovascular diseases and controlling blood pressure, with low-salt diets being particularly effective in reducing blood pressure. Alongside low-salt diets, the DASH diet and low-salt Mediterranean diet are recommended for optimal blood pressure reduction, while lacto-ovo vegetarian diets and weight loss can also significantly improve blood pressure levels. Additionally, certain nutraceuticals such as beetroot, magnesium, and catechin-rich beverages have been shown to lower blood pressure.