A new study suggests the DASH diet may offer heart health benefits for people with type 1 diabetes, a group at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
The DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, has long been recommended for lowering blood pressure. It focuses on whole, minimally processed foods rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, and fiber. Most previous research on the diet has focused on the general population or people with type 2 diabetes.
This new longitudinal study examined how the DASH diet affects specific blood markers in people with type 1 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes face a two to four times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to those without the condition.
The research used data from the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes (CACTI) study, which followed participants over three years. The study included 563 adults with type 1 diabetes and 692 adults without diabetes.
Researchers measured how closely participants followed three healthy eating patterns: the DASH diet, the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010), and the Mediterranean-Style Dietary Pattern Score (MSDPS). They then looked at how these scores related to four blood markers: homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, and PAI-1. The analysis accounted for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking, and physical activity.
Of the three eating patterns studied, only the DASH diet was linked to lower levels of homocysteine and PAI-1 in both groups. The other two patterns showed some association with homocysteine, but neither showed a consistent link with PAI-1 across both groups.
The effect was modest but consistent. For every one-point increase in DASH diet score, homocysteine dropped by about 0.5% and PAI-1 dropped by about 1% in both groups.
Homocysteine is an amino acid that, at high levels, can damage blood vessel walls and raise the risk of clotting, stroke, and heart disease. PAI-1 is a protein that controls how well the body breaks down blood clots. When PAI-1 is too high, clots are harder to clear, which is linked to inflammation and plaque buildup in the arteries.
Both markers are routinely tracked in people with type 1 diabetes because of their elevated heart disease risk.
The DASH diet, as described in the study, focuses on eating plenty of plants, healthy fats, and fiber, while limiting red meat, added sugar, and sodium. Specifically, the DASH diet includes:
Vegetables and fruits as the foundation of most meals
Whole grains like brown rice, oats, and whole wheat bread
Low-fat dairy, a distinguishing feature of DASH compared to the Mediterranean pattern
Legumes and nuts as key sources of plant protein and fiber
Lean proteins such as fish and poultry over red and processed meats
Low sodium by limiting added salt and high-sodium packaged foods
Limited added sugar by cutting back on sweetened drinks and processed sweets
The study’s authors noted that future research, including randomized controlled trials, could help clarify which specific DASH food groups most directly affect homocysteine and PAI-1 in people with type 1 diabetes. They pointed to low-fat dairy, whole grains, and low intake of sodium and added sugar as areas of interest.
This study adds evidence that the DASH diet’s heart benefits extend beyond the general population. For people with type 1 diabetes, who face a higher risk of heart disease and are routinely monitored for inflammatory and clotting markers, higher DASH diet adherence may be a practical, evidence-backed dietary tool.
