Does the DASH diet lower blood pressure by altering peripheral vascular function?

We tested whether lowering of blood pressure (BP) on the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet was associated with changes in peripheral vascular function: endothelial function, assessed by flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery, and subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow (ATBF). We also assessed effects on heart rate variability (HRV) as a measure of autonomic control of the heart. We allocated 27 men and women to DASH diet and control groups. We measured FMD, ATBF and HRV on fasting and after ingestion of 75 g glucose, before and after 30 days on dietary intervention, aiming for weight maintenance. The control group did not change their diet. The DASH-diet group complied with the diet as shown by significant reductions in systolic ( P