Primary prevention of hypertension by nutritional-hygienic means. Final report of a randomized, controlled trial.

A 5-year trial involving 201 men and women with high-normal blood pressure at baseline demonstrated the ability to reduce the incidence of hypertension in participants randomized to nutritional-hygienic intervention compared with a control group. The incidence of hypertension was 8.8% among 102 intervention group participants vs 19.

Nutritional therapy for high blood pressure. Final report of a four-year randomized controlled trial--the Hypertension Control Program.

A four-year trial assessed whether less severe hypertensives could discontinue antihypertensive drug therapy, using nutritional means to control blood pressure. Randomization was to three groups: group 1--discontinue drug therapy and reduce overweight, excess salt, and alcohol; group 2--discontinue drug therapy, with no nutritional program; or group 3--continue drug therapy, with no nutritional program. In groups 1 and 2 patients resumed drug therapy if pressure rose to hypertensive levels.

Nonpharmacological control of hypertension.

Ability to safely withdraw well-controlled mild hypertensives from drugs is being tested in a three-group randomized trial. Group I (intervention) was removed from drugs after the first 2 months of nutrition counseling. Counseling is continuing through the remaining years of the trial to achieve a minimum weight loss of 10 lb if overweight, reduction of sodium intake to less than 1,800 mg, and reduction of alcohol intake to not more than two drinks per day.

Trial on control of hypertension by nutritional means: three-year results.

Ability to safely withdraw medication from well-controlled mild hypertensives was tested in a 3-group randomized trial. Group I (Intervention): drugs were stopped 2 months after nutrition counseling began. Counselling continued throughout the remaining years of the trial to achieve: a minimum of 10 lb weight loss if overweight; reduction of sodium intake to 1800 mg/day or less; reduction of alcohol intake to not more than 2 drinks per day.

Adherence and blood-pressure response to hypertension treatment.

2 years of experience in the first phase of a large cooperative national hypertension programme yielded data indicating that a good level of patient adherence can be achieved and that satisfactory blood-pressure control can be maintained long term. For 116 participants, all employed persons, dropout in the first year was 20% but only 3% dropped out in the second year. At the second annual examination, 82% of those still in the programme had diastolic pressures under 90 mm Hg, with an average reduction of 18 mm Hg.