Adapted Mindfulness Training for Interoception and Adherence to the DASH Diet: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular disease research
• Behavioral medicine
• Nutritional science

Background:

• Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is effective in lowering blood pressure, but adherence is often low.
• Mindfulness training may enhance health behavior modification and improve adherence to dietary interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) program on interoceptive awareness.
• To assess the effect of the MB-BP program on adherence to the DASH diet.
• To determine if mindfulness training can improve dietary adherence in individuals with elevated blood pressure.

Main Methods:

• A parallel-group, phase 2, randomized clinical trial was conducted with 201 participants.
• Participants were assigned to either the 8-week MB-BP program or an enhanced usual care control group.
• Outcomes included changes in interoceptive awareness (MAIA scores) and DASH adherence (Food Frequency Questionnaire scores) over a 6-month follow-up period.

Main Results:

• The MB-BP program significantly increased interoceptive awareness scores compared to the control group (0.54 points, P < .001).
• In participants with poor baseline DASH adherence, the MB-BP program significantly improved DASH scores (0.62 points, P = .01).
• Overall, the MB-BP intervention was associated with a significant improvement in DASH diet scores from baseline (0.34 points, P = .01).

Conclusions:

• The adapted mindfulness program effectively improved interoceptive awareness and DASH diet adherence in adults with elevated blood pressure.
• The MB-BP program shows potential as a supportive intervention for enhancing dietary adherence in hypertension management.
• Mindfulness-based interventions may offer a valuable strategy for improving cardiovascular health through behavioral changes.