In a groundbreaking study presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025, researchers have unveiled compelling evidence that a targeted grocery delivery and dietary counseling intervention significantly lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels among Black adults residing in urban food deserts. These areas, characterized by limited access to affordable and nutritious groceries, have long posed challenges for cardiovascular health equity. The randomized controlled trial, conducted over three years, utilized the well-established low-sodium DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet framework to guide nutritional support, fundamentally transforming how dietary interventions can be implemented in underserved populations.
The study specifically focused on 180 Black adults living in the Boston metropolitan area who exhibited systolic blood pressure readings from 120 to less than 150 mm Hg. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: one received home-delivered groceries fully aligned with DASH dietary principles, accompanied by weekly one-on-one counseling sessions with dietitians; the other group was given monthly stipends totaling $1500 over 12 weeks to independently purchase groceries without professional nutritional guidance. This design allowed researchers not only to evaluate the impact of DASH-compliant food availability but also the additional benefit of structured dietary education and individualized support.
Blood pressure measurements, particularly systolic values, serve as a critical biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk, especially in adults over 50. At baseline, the cohort had an average systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg, indicative of elevated readings per the latest American Heart Association guidelines. After three months of intervention, both groups experienced improvements; however, the reduction in systolic blood pressure was markedly more pronounced in the group receiving dietitian-supported DASH groceries, with an average decline of 5.7 mm Hg compared to a modest 2.2 mm Hg reduction in the stipend group. These findings underscore the superiority of comprehensive dietary interventions over financial support alone in mitigating hypertension risk.
Beyond blood pressure modulation, the DASH grocery group also exhibited significant decreases in LDL cholesterol, commonly dubbed “bad cholesterol,” with average reductions observed around 8 mg/dL. Diastolic blood pressure values also showed meaningful declines of approximately 2.4 mm Hg in this cohort. Interestingly, neither group demonstrated statistically significant changes in blood glucose levels or body mass index, suggesting that short-term dietary support primarily influenced cardiovascular risk markers rather than metabolic weight or glycemic control. These metabolic parameters require longer observation or adjunctive interventions to affect notable change.
A particularly revealing dimension of this research was the sustainability of health benefits post-intervention. Participants were followed for an additional three months after completing the 12-week grocery delivery or stipend phase. Without ongoing access to DASH-compliant foods or nutritional counseling, participants’ systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels reverted to baseline measurements. This relapse highlights the entrenched social determinants of health, including persistent barriers such as cost constraints and physical access to healthy food sources, which continue to undermine long-term adherence to heart-healthy diets in underserved communities.
Dr. Stephen P. Juraschek, the study’s lead author and a prominent researcher at Harvard Medical School and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, emphasized the real-world application of these findings. Unlike prior controlled feeding trials conducted in laboratory settings utilizing specially prepared meals, this research integrated existing retail food environments to demonstrate that when logistical and educational support are provided, dietary quality and cardiovascular health improve significantly. The study validates the premise that interventions must be both accessible and tailored to individual caloric needs to drive meaningful public health outcomes.
The DASH diet, formulated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, has rigorously demonstrated efficacy in reducing hypertension through increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy, while limiting saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium. Implementing this widely recommended dietary pattern in communities burdened by food deserts, however, has historically been fraught with difficulty due to economic and environmental constraints. This study’s model—combining home delivery with continuous dietitian engagement—provides a strategic blueprint for overcoming such hurdles and fostering lasting behavioral change.
Despite the promising results, the study acknowledged key limitations, including its geographically constrained participant base from a single urban area and exclusion of individuals on antihypertensive medications or diagnosed with diabetes. These criteria limit the generalizability of findings to broader, more diverse populations and those with more advanced disease states. Additionally, the relatively short duration of twelve weeks for the active intervention, with a three-month follow-up, points to the necessity for longer-term studies to ascertain sustained health impacts and cost-effectiveness in public health frameworks.
The implications of this research extend into broader public health policy and programming imperatives. Nutrition is a cornerstone prevention strategy for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of mortality globally and disproportionately affects marginalized populations. This study emphasizes that equitable food access coupled with expert guidance can bridge health disparities rooted in socioeconomic inequities. Integrating nutrition-focused interventions such as these into healthcare delivery systems holds profound promise for mitigating cardiovascular risk in high-need groups.
Notably, the study was sponsored by the American Heart Association’s Health Equity Research Network on Hypertension, reflecting a growing institutional commitment to dismantling systemic barriers to health equity. The findings align with the association’s 2025 Food Is Medicine Scientific Statement, which advocates for embedding healthy food access within clinical care models to improve diet quality, food security, and health outcomes. Such initiatives represent a paradigm shift, recognizing food as a potent therapeutic agent and warranting dedicated investment and innovation.
The presentation of this study at Scientific Sessions 2025, one of the premier global forums for cardiovascular research, ensures heightened visibility within the scientific and medical communities, fostering dialogue on scalable interventions. As hypertension and dyslipidemia are modifiable risk factors, the potential for replicating this grocery-delivery and nutrition-counseling framework in diverse settings can catalyze significant public health gains. Embracing multidisciplinary approaches that address social determinants of health alongside clinical risk factors is imperative for advancing cardiovascular health equity.
In conclusion, this research decisively demonstrates that tailored, home-delivered grocery programs aligned with the DASH diet, in conjunction with professional dietary counseling, can meaningfully reduce blood pressure and LDL cholesterol in Black adults residing in food deserts. Yet, enduring benefits hinge on mitigating persistent social barriers to healthy eating. Scaling such interventions, coupled with policy reforms to improve food affordability and access, offers a potent vehicle to combat cardiovascular disease disparities and drive systemic change in public health nutrition.
Subject of Research: Cardiovascular health improvement through dietary intervention in food desert communities
Article Title: Grocery Delivery and Dietitian Counseling Based on DASH Diet Reduces Blood Pressure in Black Adults in Food Deserts
News Publication Date: November 9, 2025
Web References:
- https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure
- https://professional.heart.org/en/meetings/scientific-sessions
- https://www.healthcarexfood.org/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001356
References: Research presented at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025; JAMA (forthcoming full manuscript)
Keywords: Nutrition, Nutrition counseling, Blood pressure, DASH diet, Hypertension, Cardiovascular disease, Food deserts, Health equity, Dietary intervention
