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Dietary Patterns Systematic Reviews

Systematic Review Question

What is the relationship between adherence to dietary guidelines/recommendations or specific dietary patterns (assessed using methods other than index/score, cluster or factor, or reduced rank regression analyses) and risk of cardiovascular disease?

Conclusion Statement

There is strong and consistent evidence that consumption of a DASH diet results in reduced blood pressure in adults with above optimal blood pressure, up to and including stage 1 hypertension. A dietary pattern consistent with the DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, fish, whole grains, fiber, potassium, and other minerals at recommended levels and low in red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. There is limited evidence that adherence to vegetarian diets is associated with decreased death from ischemic heart disease, with the association being stronger in men than in women. 

Grade: I - Strong - DASH and Blood Pressure

Grade: III - Limited - Vegetarian and Ischemic Heart Disease