# Effect of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet on Heart Failure Status in Older Adults

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2024 · $192,484

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This application is in response to PA-20-194 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21
Clinical Trial Required). While adequate nutrition is known to promote health-related quality of life by
addressing malnutrition and promoting optimal functioning among older adults, little is known about the impact
of clinical nutrition intervention as a therapeutic modality on heart failure (HF) outcomes. New patient-oriented
research on the effects of nutritional therapy on HF status and progression would greatly benefit older HF
patients who commonly experience malnutrition. Given the high human and economic costs associated with
HF complications among older adults, the development and clinical testing of nutritional standards represents a
much needed, low-cost, and prudent strategy likely to improve HF outcomes. This pilot study is designed to
prospectively test the effect of a prescribed, laboratory-prepared, home-delivered Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension (DASH) diet intervention on clinically important markers of HF status. We will generate important
data of the effect of the dietary intervention on pulmonary artery pressures (PAPs) in patients with implanted
CardioMEMS™ hemodynamic monitoring device, a novel and groundbreaking approach to the early prediction
of acute decompensated HF and effective strategy to reduce rates of HF hospitalizations and mortality. Our
target population are older adults aged 65+ years with a diagnosis of HF who are stable on pharmacotherapy.
The central hypothesis is that short-term consumption of a DASH diet significantly improves HF status
among older patients. We will conduct a randomized crossover clinical study design (n=38, 50% women).
Outcomes after 4 weeks on the DASH diet will be compared to a 4-week “own diet” phase during which
patients will consume their self-selected, self-prepared diet based on usual care recommendations. Our
specific aims are: 1) to determine the effect of consuming a DASH diet for 4 weeks on levels of the natriuretic
peptide (NP) biomarkers BNP and NT-ProBNP which are strong prognostic markers in patients with chronic
HF; and 2) to examine the effect of consuming a DASH diet for 4 weeks on PAPs in HF patients with implanted
CardioMEMS™ device. We anticipate that HF status and PAPs will respond positively and timely to the
consumption of a 4-week 2,300 mg sodium-restricted DASH diet intervention. The study is supported by
preliminary data demonstrating safety, feasibility, and acceptability of the proposed intervention within the
Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance (GA CTSA) infrastructure. In addition, the study team has
long-standing experience and expertise in cardiology, pathophysiology, nutrition, public health, and aging
related research within the GA CTSA environment and is well suited to carry out the proposed research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10851027
- **Project number:** 5R21AG070765-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Elisabeth Lilian Pia Sattler
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $192,484
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-06-01 → 2026-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10851027

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10851027, Effect of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet on Heart Failure Status in Older Adults (5R21AG070765-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10851027. Licensed CC0.

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