Patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes who consume a high fiber diet had improvement in their blood pressure, cholesterol and fasting glucose, according to a study presented at the ACC Middle East Conference 2019 together with the 10th Emirates Cardiac Society Congress, held from Oct. 3 – 5 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Researchers tracked 200 participants' fiber intake for six months and included check-ups at the start of the study, three months and six months. Patients in this study had type 2 diabetes and a calorie intake of 1,200-1,500kcal, causing their RDA for fiber to be 24-30gm, an increase of 20 to 25 percent from the recommended allowances from the National Institute of Nutrition and the Indian Council of Medical Research for them to be consuming a high fiber diet.

Results showed that participants on a high fiber diet experienced significant improvement in several cardiovascular risk factors, including a 9 percent reduction in serum cholesterol, 23 percent reduction in triglycerides, 15 percent reduction of systolic blood pressure and a 28 percent reduction of fasting glucose. The researchers found a high fiber diet is inversely related with cardiovascular risk factors and plays a protective role against cardiovascular disease.

"Comprehensive evaluation of etiological effects of dietary factors on cardiometabolic outcomes, their quantitative effects and corresponding optimal intakes are well-established," said Rohit R. Kapoor, MD, FACC, lead author of the study. "This study helps us determine three important things for this patient population. Firstly, a high fiber diet is important in cases of diabetes and hypertension to prevent future cardiovascular disease. Secondly, medical nutrition therapy and regular counseling sessions also hold great importance in treating and prevention of diabetes and hypertension. Thirdly, this type of diet in combination with medical treatment can improve dyslipidemia, pulse wave velocity, waist-to-hip ratio and hypertension."

Visit ACC.org/MiddleEast2019 for a full list of the abstracts.

Keywords: Blood Pressure, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Cardiovascular Diseases, United Arab Emirates, Hypertension, Diet, Dietary Fiber, Nutrition Therapy, Primary Prevention, Middle East

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