THE EFFECTS OF THE "RICE DIET" UPON THE BLOOD PRESSURE OF HYPERTENSIVE INDIVIDUALS

Abstract

After 13 days to 7 weeks in the hospital, 7 hypertensive patients were placed on a diet of rice, fruit juices and vitamins; and 6 were placed on diets restricted as to NaCl. An attempt was made to compare the hypotensive effects of these diets. Diastolic blood pressures were somewhat lower in 3 while on the "rice diet" but the changes observed were not striking. One developed hy-pochloremia with uremia and died. Changes in blood pressure appearing in other patients after a restriction of NaCl alone were of similar magnitude to those observed with the "rice diet." Similar changes have followed hospitalization alone. Noticeable effects were seen more often in the earlier cases without advanced pathological changes.