Homeostatic effect of dash and alkaline-based diet on blood electrolytes and lipid profiles among cardiac patients: a comparative study Mai Abd-Alkhalik Gharib, Mohammed Fouad Mansour Ewis.

Abstract EN

Subjects with congestive heart failure (CHF) usually show acid– base and electrolyte disturbances, due both to the activation of several neurohumoral mechanisms and to drugs used in this condition, such as diuretics.

Acidosis induces release of catecholamines, which attenuate both the negative inotropic effect of acidosis on cardiac contractility and the peripheral vasodilatory effect of acidemia that determined by the fall of pH in the intracellular fluid.

Alkaline and DASH diets have been advocated to achieve better health outcomes in cardiac patients and their conditions by shifting dietary choices to more "alkaline" alternatives, thereby preventing severe complications.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of DASH and alkaline-based diets on the clinical profiles of cardiac patients.

Method: an intervention case-control study was conducted on one hundred hypertensive cardiac adult patients, they divided into control group who prescribed their medications only; other DASH and alkaline groups followed the therapeutic diets for 21 consecutive days.

Then dietary consumption was computed to determine nutritional requirements.

Serum electrolytes, blood pressure measures serum lipid profiles and urinary pH were been assessed.

Results: Throughout the post-intervention periods, blood sodium and bicarbonate reduced statistically significant (P≤0.001) with an alkaline diet rather than a DASH diet, whereas potassium and calcium were increased; blood bicarbonate was reduced considerably (P≤0.001) with an alkaline diet rather than a DASH diet.

Urinary pH was altered considerably in both DASH and alkaline groups, while Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were improved considerably (P≤ 0.001) with no differences between them.

Conclusion: The study concluded that acidosis was reduced considerably after nutritional intervention with an alkaline diet vs.

a DASH diet