Subgroup analyses showed smaller sample s reporting larger effect sizes ; intervention lasting less than 6 months showed larger effect sizes and intention-to-treat analysis showed smaller effect sizes Lifestyle interventions may be of value in preventing and reducing blood pressure in LMICs .
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of antihypertensive medication , hypertension remains poorly controlled in low and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .
Effects of diet and lifestyle changes on atherosclerotic risk factors after 24 weeks on the Indian Diet Heart Study.
In a r and omized , single-blind , controlled trial , 621 patients were assigned either intervention diet A ( group A , 310 patients ) or control diet B  ( group B , 311 patients ) for a period of 24 weeks . After 24 weeks as revealed by dietary question naires , group A patients received : ( 1 ) a diet with a higher percentage of calories from fruits and vegetables and complex carbohydrates ; ( 2 ) a higher polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratio diet ; and ( 3 ) a larger amount of soluble dietary fiber , antioxidant vitamins and minerals and low saturated fat and cholesterol than group B. Group A patients also did more physical and yogic exercises than group B. Adherence to diet and exercise was obtained through question naires and information obtained was quantified into a formula . After 24 weeks , the overall score of diet and exercises  was significantly higher in group A than in group B. There was a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol ( 13.3 % ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( 16.9 % ) , triglycerides ( 19.2 % ) , fasting blood glucose ( 19.5 % ) and blood pressures ( 11.5/6.2 mm Hg ) in the intervention group compared with initial levels and changes in group B. The effect of  exercise  on the decrease in risk factors was additive . Within group A , overall score for diet and exercise  was greater in 1 subset of 116 patients in the intervention group which had maximal lifestyle changes . A separate analysis of data in this subgroup revealed a greater decrease in risk factors compared with risk factor changes in the remaining 194 patients with less higher overall score ; this indicated that the relation of lifestyle changes with reduction in risk factors may be of causal nature . ( ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS
Subgroup analyses showed smaller sample s reporting larger effect sizes ; intervention lasting less than 6 months showed larger effect sizes and intention-to-treat analysis showed smaller effect sizes Lifestyle interventions may be of value in preventing and reducing blood pressure in LMICs .
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of antihypertensive medication , hypertension remains poorly controlled in low and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .