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Adapted mindfulness training for interoception and adherence to the DASH Diet: A phase 2 randomized clinical trial
Dietary interventions, like DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), may help to decrease blood pressure (BP). However, fidelity to DASH diets is usually low. Hypertension is a direct cause of cardiovascular disease. Enhancing health behaviors that decrease blood pressure through mindfulness training may help increase DASH adherence, partly by enhancing interoceptive awareness related to food intake. Loucks et al. (2023) aimed to assess how the Mindfulness-Based Blood Pressure Reduction (MB-BP) program affects DASH adherence and interoceptive awareness in their series of Phase 2 parallel-group randomized clinical studies (2017-2020). Two hundred and one participants with elevated unattended office BP (≥120/80 mm Hg) who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned: 100 to the control group (receiving augmented routine care) and 101 to the MB-BP program. The eight-week MB-BP program was modified to address increased blood pressure and included mindfulness training, information, and tailored feedback regarding risk factors for hypertension. The home blood pressure monitoring devices were given to the MB-BP and control groups, along with instructions and alternatives for referring them to primary care physicians. Brochures on managing elevated blood pressure were also given to the control group. The MAIA (Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness) questionnaire (range 0-5, higher scores indicating greater interoceptive awareness) and DASH adherence scores obtained from a 163-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (range 0-11, higher scores indicating improved DASH adherence) were used to evaluate study outcomes. Data analysis revealed that participants’ mean age was 60.0 ± 12.2 years, 58.7% female, and 81.1% non-Hispanic White. Compared to the control, the MB-BP treatment improved the MAIA score by 0.54 points after six months and significantly raised the DASH score at six months compared to controls in persons with low baseline DASH adherence by 0.62 points. Additionally, all MB-BP patients who received the intervention had an improvement in their DASH diet score of 0.34 points from baseline to six months, compared to a change of -0.04 points in the control group. Thus, the authors conclude that interoceptive awareness and DASH adherence were enhanced by mindfulness training tailored to lowering blood pressure through better health practices. The MB-BP program may help individuals follow the DASH diet. [NPID: Mindfulness, dietary interventions, DASH, hypertension, adults, clinical trial]
Year: 2023
