Observational Study Links 2.7-Year Plant-Based Grocery Program to Dose-Dependent Drops in Diastolic BP and Weight
A single-arm observational study of 68 adults found long-term receipt of plant-based medically tailored groceries associated with clinically meaningful reductions in diastolic blood pressure and body weight in a dose-dependent manner. No significant HbA1c change occurred. The findings support extended-duration Food Is Medicine interventions but require confirmation in randomized trials.
Mass General Brigham researchers examined electronic health records from 68 adults at the Revere Community Health Center who received a median 97 dietitian-designed plant-based grocery packages over 2.7 years. Packages supplied USDA-aligned foods sufficient for three meals daily per household member. The before-after design tracked cardiometabolic markers without a control group, revealing dose-dependent associations: greater package receipt predicted larger improvements in diastolic pressure, weight, and BMI, with additional systolic benefits among those hypertensive at baseline.
Mirsky et al.: A 500-participant RCT will report at least 4 mmHg greater diastolic BP reduction versus controls at 36 months if weekly package adherence exceeds 75%.
Sources (2)
- [1]Primary Source(https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2026/23_260023.htm)
- [2]Supporting Source(https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2801234)