The Effects of Korean DASH Diet Education Program on Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Capacity, and Serum Homocysteine Level among Elderly Korean Women

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the Korean Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) education program on oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and serum homocysteine (Hcy) level in elderly Korean women. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study employing non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The DASH group (n=27) underwent the DASH education program for 12 weeks, whereas the control group (n=21) was provided one education session. The survey was conducted before and after the intervention period. RESULTS: In DASH group, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intakes significantly increased after the intervention as compared to prior to the intervention. No significant differences were found in the control group. After the intervention, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and Hcy levels significantly decreased in the DASH group but not in the control group. CONCLUSION: The DASH education program was effective in reducing oxidative stress and Hcy levels in elderly Korean women.