Hypertension is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the industrialized world, attributed mostly to modifiable lifestyle factors. Aspects that are controlled by patients include physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and nutrition.
The DASH (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension) diet is a proven effective intervention in lowering blood pressure in multiple populations. In this proof of concept study, volunteers with untreated stage 1 hypertension, defined as mild high blood pressure with numbers in the range of 130 - 139 over 80 - 89, will receive a DASH-based menu during 5 days of hospitalization, during a weekend at home where they will continue the menu, another 5 days as inpatients, followed by a weekend at home on the same menu, and the return to the inpatient unit for an additional day for final testing.
Throughout the intervention period, participants will be followed clinically and undergo repeated laboratory testing. The aim of this project is to characterize changes in urine electrolytes and exosome protein abundance pattern during nutritional changes, shifting from a "westernized diet" to a DASH diet.