Nutritional therapy for high blood pressure. Final report of a four-year randomized controlled trial--the Hypertension Control Program

• Published in: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association Vol. 257; no. 11; p. 1484
• Main Authors: Stamler, R, Stamler, J, Grimm, R, Gosch, F C, Elmer, P, Dyer, A, Berman, R, Fishman, J, Van Heel, N, Civinelli, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 20.03.1987
• Subjects: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Antihypertensive Agents - administration & dosage; Clinical Trials as Topic; Diet, Reducing; Female; Humans; Hypertension - diet therapy; Hypertension - drug therapy; Lipids - blood; Male; Natriuresis; Random Allocation; Sodium - administration & dosage
• ISSN: 0098-7484
• DOI: 10.1001/jama.1987.03390110060027

A four-year trial assessed whether less severe hypertensives could discontinue antihypertensive drug therapy, using nutritional means to control blood pressure. Randomization was to three groups: group 1--discontinue drug therapy and reduce overweight, excess salt, and alcohol; group 2--discontinue drug therapy, with no nutritional program; or group 3--continue drug therapy, with no nutritional program. In groups 1 and 2 patients resumed drug therapy if pressure rose to hypertensive levels. Loss of at least 4.5 kg (10 + lb) was maintained by 30% of group 1, with a group mean loss of 1.8 kg (4 lb); sodium intake fell 36% and modest alcohol intake reduction was reported. At four years, 39% in group 1 remained normotensive without drug therapy, compared with 5% in group 2. Study findings demonstrated that nutritional therapy may substitute for drugs in a sizable proportion of hypertensives or, if drugs are still needed, can lessen some unwanted biochemical effects of drug treatment.