Mahdieh Niknam
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Iran
Title: Adherence to a DASH-style diet in relation to stroke: A case-control study
Biography
Biography: Mahdieh Niknam
Abstract
Despite the growing body of evidence from western societies on the association of dietary patterns and stroke, limited data are available in this regard from developing countries. This study was conducted to examine the association between adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and risk of stroke among Iranian population. This hospital-based case-control study, included 194 stroke patients and 194 controls, was conducted in Alzahra University Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Cases were stroke patients that were hospitalized in neurology ward of Alzahra University Hospital. Controls were randomly selected among hospitalized patients in orthopedic or surgical wards of this center. A validated FFQ was used to assess the usual dietary intakes. We constructed the DASH diet score based on food and nutrients emphasized or minimized in the DASH diet. The prevalence of stroke among those in the top quartile of DASH diet score was 40%, which was 15% lower than that in bottom quartile; this difference was marginally significant (P= 0.10). After controlling for age, sex and total energy intake, adherence to the DASH diet was inversely associated with the risk of stroke (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.28; 0.98). These associations remained significant even after additional controlling for physical activity, smoking, hypertension and diabetes; such that individuals in the highest quartile of the DASH diet score had 58% lower risk of stroke than those in the lowest category (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.96). However, after further adjustment for BMI, the association disappeared (OR: 0.62; 95% ¬¬CI: 0.29, 1.31) indicating an obesity-dependent association. We found an inverse relationship between the DASH style diet and prevalence of stroke. Prospective studies are needed to confirm this association.