Short-term effects of modest salt reduction combined with DASH diet on changing salt eating habits in hypertensive patients with type II diabetes

Objective Excessive salt intake is currently the foremost universal risk factor for controllable chronic disease. This study evaluated the short-term effects of a modest salt intake reduction combined with the Chinese Modified Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (CM-DASH) diet on sodium and potassium intake, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and pulse pressure (PP) in hypertensive patients with type II diabetes.Methods Sixty-one participants were randomized to the intervention group (52% low-sodium salt and DASH) and control group (normal salt and DASH). An 8-week dietary intervention was applied. Daily salt intake, blood pressure (BP), and drug use were recorded every week. Twenty-four-hour urine, casual urine, and blood samples were measured at baseline, the 4th week, and the end of the intervention.Results Fifty-nine patients (25 men) completed the entire study. Sodium intake decreased by 1259.66 (792.76, 1726.56)/705.80 (149.21, 1262.39) mg/day after 4 weeks (intervention: P < .001; control: P = .015). Potassium intake increased by 641.14 (73.31, 1208.96)/43.43 (−259.66, 346.53) mg/day (intervention: P = .028); MAP decreased by 9.06 (6.69, 11.43)/7.16 (4.03, 10.28) mmHg (both: P < .001); PP decreased by 7.97 (3.05, 12.88)/5.74 (2.55,8.94) mmHg (intervention: P = .002; control: P = .001) after 8 weeks. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant.Conclusion Modest salt reduction and the CM-DASH diet for hypertensive patients with type II diabetes can achieve short-term salt reduction effects. The effect on changing salt-eating habits needs to be investigated with an extended follow-up.