What effects does the Low-sodium DASH diet have on hypertensive heart failure with preserved ejection fraction?
Studies have shown that the Low-sodium DASH diet reduces blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and oxidative stress in hypertensive heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (Hummel SL et al., 2012; Hummel SL et al., 2013). Additionally, it has been found to improve diastolic function and ventricular-arterial coupling (Hummel SL et al., 2013). Furthermore, it has been suggested that a high-protein diet may also prevent and treat heart failure (Van Horn L & Yancy C, 2013; Ribeiro RF Jr et al., 2014; Motie M et al., 2013). Lastly, exercise training has been found to have positive effects on cardiac function, functional capacity, and quality of life in both systolic and diastolic dysfunction (Piepoli MF et al., 2004; Smart N et al., 2007). 