Associations of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension dietary pattern with cardiac structure and function

Various food groups have been associated with measures of left ventricular geometry and function. Whether the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern in mid-life is associated with a favorable cardiac structure and function later in life is unknown.

The study population consisted of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants free of cardiovascular disease at study visit 3 in 1993-1995. Dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire at study visits 1 (1987-1989) and 3 (1993-1995). Participants who underwent transthoracic echocardiograms at the Jackson field center at visit 3 (n = 1974) and at all field centers at study visit 5 (2011-2013; n = 4651) were included in this study. General linear regression was used to evaluate associations between dietary intake and markers of cardiac structure and function adjusting for potential confounders. Higher DASH score was associated with lower left ventricle mean wall thickness and higher absolute value of longitudinal strain at visit 5 (p_trend = 0.004 and < 0.001, respectively).

The DASH dietary pattern in midlife was favorably associated with left ventricle structure and systolic function later in life. These results emphasize the importance of adhering to a healthy eating plan as one lifestyle measure to preserve cardiac structure and function.