Effects of the DASH Diet and Lifestyle Modification on Blood Pressure in Adults With Prehypertension (DASH-PREHT)

July 3, 2026 updated by: Antalya Bilim University

Effects of Lifestyle Modification, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet, and Their Combination on Blood Pressure in Adults With Prehypertension: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and lifestyle modification on blood pressure in adults with prehypertension. The study was conducted among adults aged 20-64 years who were diagnosed with prehypertension based on one-week blood pressure monitoring.

A total of 32 participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: verbal lifestyle modification advice, DASH diet, or DASH diet combined with lifestyle modification. Participants were followed for 2 months. Blood pressure measurements were repeated at the end of the first and second months. Dietary intake, anthropometric measurements, body composition, physical activity records, and routine biochemical parameters were also assessed during the study.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and lifestyle modification on blood pressure in adults with prehypertension.

The study was carried out at the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Antalya Atatürk State Hospital between March 2015 and April 2015. Adults aged 20-64 years who were diagnosed with prehypertension after one week of blood pressure monitoring were included. Prehypertension was defined according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee criteria as systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mmHg. All participants provided written informed consent before enrollment.

A total of 32 eligible participants were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups. The first group received verbal advice on lifestyle modification, including reducing salt intake, avoiding salted foods, weight loss when body mass index was 25 kg/m² or higher, regular aerobic physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption. The second group received an individualized DASH diet plan. For this group, resting metabolic rate and total energy requirements were calculated, and dietary plans were prepared according to the recommended DASH food group servings. The third group received both an individualized DASH diet and lifestyle modification recommendations. In this group, energy requirements for participants with body mass index of 25 kg/m² or higher were calculated according to desirable body weight, and sodium intake was controlled by providing measured daily salt amounts according to DASH recommendations.

Participants were followed for 2 months. Blood pressure measurements were performed at baseline and repeated at the end of the first and second months. Blood pressure was measured in a seated position after a 5-minute rest, with attention to avoiding smoking, caffeine, alcohol, and physical activity before measurement.

Data collection included demographic characteristics, smoking and alcohol use, physical activity status, medication and supplement use, anthropometric measurements, body composition, dietary intake, blood pressure, and routine biochemical parameters. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day 24-hour food records at baseline, at the end of the first month, and at the end of the second month. Food frequency data were also collected at baseline and at the end of the study. Anthropometric measurements and body composition analyses were performed at baseline and at the end of the second month. Routine biochemical and hematological parameters were obtained from patient records at baseline and at the end of the second month. Physical activity was assessed using 24-hour physical activity records.

The primary purpose of the study was to compare the effects of lifestyle modification advice, the DASH diet, and the DASH diet combined with lifestyle modification on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults with prehypertension over a 2-month follow-up period.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

32

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 20 to 64 years
  • Diagnosis of prehypertension based on one-week blood pressure monitoring
  • Systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 mmHg
  • Willingness to participate in the study voluntarily
  • Provision of written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of kidney disease
  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Diagnosis of cancer
  • Use of vitamin or mineral supplements
  • Performing more than 150 minutes of physical activity per week

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Lifestyle Modification Advice
Participants in this arm received verbal lifestyle modification advice, including reducing salt intake, avoiding salted foods, weight loss when body mass index was 25 kg/m² or higher, regular aerobic physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption.
Behavioral: Lifestyle Modification Advice
Participants received verbal lifestyle modification advice, including reducing salt intake, avoiding salted foods, weight loss or maintenance of normal body weight when appropriate, regular aerobic physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption.
Other Names:
  • Lifestyle Modification Advice DASH Diet Plus Lifestyle Modification
Experimental: DASH Diet
Participants in this arm received an individualized Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan. Total energy requirements were calculated, and dietary plans were prepared according to the recommended DASH food group servings.
Behavioral: DASH Diet
Participants received an individualized Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan. Total energy requirements were calculated, and dietary plans were prepared according to the recommended DASH food group servings. In the DASH diet plus lifestyle modification arm, sodium intake was controlled by providing measured daily salt amounts according to DASH recommendations.
Other Names:
  • DASH Diet DASH Diet Plus Lifestyle Modification
Experimental: DASH Diet Plus Lifestyle Modification
Participants in this arm received an individualized DASH diet plan combined with lifestyle modification recommendations. For participants with body mass index of 25 kg/m² or higher, energy requirements were calculated according to desirable body weight. Sodium intake was controlled according to DASH recommendations, and advice on weight management, physical activity, salt reduction, and alcohol limitation was provided.
Behavioral: Lifestyle Modification Advice
Participants received verbal lifestyle modification advice, including reducing salt intake, avoiding salted foods, weight loss or maintenance of normal body weight when appropriate, regular aerobic physical activity, and limiting alcohol consumption.
Other Names:
  • Lifestyle Modification Advice DASH Diet Plus Lifestyle Modification
Behavioral: DASH Diet
Participants received an individualized Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet plan. Total energy requirements were calculated, and dietary plans were prepared according to the recommended DASH food group servings. In the DASH diet plus lifestyle modification arm, sodium intake was controlled by providing measured daily salt amounts according to DASH recommendations.
Other Names:
  • DASH Diet DASH Diet Plus Lifestyle Modification

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Systolic Blood Pressure at 2 Months
Time Frame: Baseline and Month 2
Systolic blood pressure was measured in a seated position after a 5-minute rest. The outcome was defined as the change in systolic blood pressure from baseline to the end of the 2-month follow-up period.
Baseline and Month 2
Change From Baseline in Diastolic Blood Pressure at 2 Months
Time Frame: Baseline and Month 2
Diastolic blood pressure was measured in a seated position after a 5-minute rest. The outcome was defined as the change in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to the end of the 2-month follow-up period.
Baseline and Month 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change From Baseline in Body Weight at 2 Months
Time Frame: Baseline and Month 2
Body weight was measured using an electronic scale. The outcome was defined as the change in body weight from baseline to the end of the 2-month follow-up period.
Baseline and Month 2

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Antalya Bilim University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 1, 2015

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

June 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 3, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2026.07.03.HLE
  • Ethics Committee (Other Identifier: 15/48)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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