Abstract
A comparison was performed between dietary counseling (guidance) and Burg therapy in patients with essential hypertension consulting the outpatient clinic. The comparison was conducted for 12 weeks in order to compare the antihypertensive effectiveness, side effects and costs for these two treatments. Sixty-eight patients were randomly assigned to either the dietary guidance group (44 patients) or the antihypertensive drug therapy group (24 patients) by selecting an envelope indicating the therapeutic group. In the dietary group, the systolic blood pressure was measured immediately following deep breath. A nutritional screening was performed by measuring the fasting serum insulin. Nutritional guidance was then given based on these results with emphasis on important aspects. The patient's attending physician selected the antihypertensive drug.
The following results were obtained from analysis of 59 cases after excluding 9 cases. A reduction in blood pressure was achieved in 78.4% of the dietary guidance group and in 77.3% of the drug therapy group. A reduction in blood pressure was obtained in as much as 82.6% of those who strictly observed their diet.
In terms of side effects, abnormal liver function tests developed in 3 of the patients in the drug therapy group (13.6%).
For calculation of the medical cost, it was possible to reduce the total medical fee by 5740×(n-l)-610 yen when the hypertension was treated with diet alone on n visits. The medical fee was shown to be reducted by 68, 270 yen per year by diet therapy with antihypertensive results similar to those obtained with drug therapy.
