Work

Adherence to the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) and risk of pancreatic steatosis

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) has shown positive effects on various health factors that may be related to pancreatic steatosis (PS). This study aimed to investigate the association between adherence to the DASH diet and the risk of developing PS. This case-control study was conducted on 278 patients diagnosed with gallstone disease and referred to Taleghani Hospital (Tehran, Iran). Among the participants, 89 were diagnosed with PS based on an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examination, while 189 patients did not exhibit this condition. The dietary intake of patients was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Participants were classified based on the DASH diet score. Multiple logistic regression models estimated crude and multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The mean ± SD of DASH score in PS patients and controls was 23.68 ± 4.38 and 25.27 ± 4.2, respectively (P = 0.006). The risk of PS in the highest tertile of DASH score was 64% lower than the lowest tertile (OR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.17–0.75, P = 0.005) after full adjustment for confounders. Also, more intake of vegetables and whole grains and less intake of sodium, red and processed meat were each significantly associated with reduced risk of PS. Our data prove that adherence to the DASH diet was associated with a lower risk of PS. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these associations and explore the underlying mechanisms. The findings of this study highlight the potential role of following the DASH diet in reducing the risk of developing PS. Adherence to a DASH dietary pattern, emphasizing the consumption of “vegetables” and “whole grains” while limiting “red and processed meats” and “sodium”, may be associated with decreased odds of PS. The present study provides the first evidence of an association between the DASH diet and PS odds. Despite the relatively high prevalence of PS, the lack of specific treatment approaches and its association with pancreatic cancer, the role of nutrition in it has not been elucidated, and this knowledge gap is addressed in this study. This study points to the potential role of dietary interventions in the prevention and management of PS.

Source: Journal of Health Population and Nutrition

DOI: 10.1186/s41043-024-00628-x