The objective of this paper was to examine the effects of changes in dietary patterns on estimated 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) trial. For that purpose, 459 individuals with prehypertension or stage-1 hypertension not taking antihypertensive medication were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets: control, fruits and vegetables (F/V), or DASH (rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and reduced in fats and cholesterol). A total of 436 participants were included in the analysis with a mean age of 44.7 years, 51% men and 60% African Americans. Results revealed that the DASH dietary pattern, without weight loss, reduced estimated 10-year CHD risk by 18% compared to control and by 11% compared to F/V. An interaction was observed between dietary pattern and race suggesting a greater risk reduction in Blacks than Whites. These results suggest that the DASH diet may reduce the risk of CHD in addition to reducing blood pressure.
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