Fruits and vegetables can help manage hypertension, particularly for kidney and heart health
Conducted over five years, a study shows the efficacy of dietary interventions over traditional pharmaceutical approaches in reducing cardiovascular risks associated with chronic kidney disease.
Led by Dr. Donald E. Wesson from Dell Medical School at The University of Texas, the study focused on patients with hypertension and high urine albumin levels, a marker for kidney disease. The findings highlight that incorporating 2-4 cups of base-producing fruits and vegetables into daily diets significantly improved kidney health compared to standard medical care.
Benefits of fruit and vegetables
“A diet high in fruits and vegetables is heart-healthy. We hypothesized that one way that fruits and vegetables are both kidney- and heart-healthy is that they reduce the amount of acid in the diet,” Dr. Wesson explained. This approach contrasts with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) tablets, which improved kidney health but did not show the same benefits for blood pressure and cardiovascular indicators.
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, known for its emphasis on fruits and vegetables, has long been recommended as a first-line treatment for hypertension. Despite this, it is underutilised in clinical practice. The study’s results challenge current norms, advocating for dietary changes as initial steps in hypertension management, potentially reducing reliance on medication.
“Dietary interventions for chronic disease management are often not recommended and even less often executed because of the many challenges to get patients to implement them,” Dr. Wesson noted. “We must increase our efforts to incorporate them into patient management and more broadly, make healthy diets more accessible to populations at increased risk for kidney and cardiovascular disease.”
Future treatment for hypertension
This approach aligns with efforts to enhance patient outcomes through holistic lifestyle modifications.
As the medical community reevaluates treatment paradigms for hypertension, the study serves as a reminder of the power of everyday dietary choices in promoting long-term health. Patients are encouraged to discuss comprehensive care strategies with their healthcare providers, including regular monitoring of kidney function and cardiovascular risk factors through urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) measurements.
