Pilot Randomized Trial of 2 Food Purchasing Interventions in Individuals With Hypertension in New Orleans: An American Heart Association Food Is Medicine Initiative
- 1Duke University School of Medicine
- 2Louisiana Public Health Institute
- 3University Medical Center New Orleans LCMC Health
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Consuming fruits and vegetables daily is linked to improved health in individuals with hypertension. Voucher incentives have been shown to improve healthy food purchasing. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of an online versus in-store voucher intervention on food purchasing and health outcomes in hypertensive individuals. METHODS: In this randomized pilot trial, 98 participants with uncontrolled hypertension received a $100 monthly food voucher to either an online grocery platform or an in-store local grocery. Both groups received educational materials. The primary outcome was change in self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. Secondary outcomes were voucher use, engagement with educational materials, and changes in blood pressure, weight, and body mass index. Generalized estimating equations for repeated measures were used to assess changes in food-group consumption over 5 months. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 57 years, and 65% were women. No difference was detected between arms for self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. There was an overall 20% (interquartile range, -17% to 93%) increase in fruit and vegetable consumption within both arms. Voucher use was significantly higher in the in-store arm (>90%) than the online arm (<64%). Engagement with educational materials was greater in the in-store arm. No significant changes in weight, body mass index, or blood pressure were observed. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was detected between in-store and online vouchers for fruit and vegetable consumption. Higher engagement and voucher use were observed in the in-store arm than the online arm. Future interventions should be conducted in larger populations and address technological barriers to enhance program effectiveness and assess long-term health impacts. REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/; Unique identifier: NCT06214806.
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BibTeX
@article{tannu2026pilot,
title = {{Pilot Randomized Trial of 2 Food Purchasing Interventions in Individuals With Hypertension in New Orleans: An American Heart Association Food Is Medicine Initiative}},
author = {Manasi Tannu and Rebecca Young and Amanda Brucker and Bridget Simon‐Friedt and Yuriy Bisyuk and Sylvester Tumusiime and Lindsey Rudov and Jessica Stein and Meagan Alley and Darcy Hannagan and Madeline Young and Jasmine McGary and Sarah Palmer and Lauren Cohen and Neha Pagidipati and Adrian Hernandez and Thomas W. Carton},
journal = {Journal of the American Heart Association},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1161/jaha.125.044984},
url = {https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.044984},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Pilot Randomized Trial of 2 Food Purchasing Interventions in Individuals With Hypertension in New Orleans: An American Heart Association Food Is Medicine Initiative
AU - Manasi Tannu
AU - Rebecca Young
AU - Amanda Brucker
AU - Bridget Simon‐Friedt
AU - Yuriy Bisyuk
AU - Sylvester Tumusiime
AU - Lindsey Rudov
AU - Jessica Stein
AU - Meagan Alley
AU - Darcy Hannagan
AU - Madeline Young
AU - Jasmine McGary
AU - Sarah Palmer
AU - Lauren Cohen
AU - Neha Pagidipati
AU - Adrian Hernandez
AU - Thomas W. Carton
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
JO - Journal of the American Heart Association
DO - 10.1161/jaha.125.044984
UR - https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.125.044984
AB - BACKGROUND: Consuming fruits and vegetables daily is linked to improved health in individuals with hypertension. Voucher incentives have been shown to improve healthy food purchasing. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of an online versus in-store voucher intervention on food purchasing and health outcomes in hypertensive individuals. METHODS: In this randomized pilot trial, 98 participants with uncontrolled hypertension received a $100 monthly food voucher to either an online grocery platform or an in-store local grocery. Both groups received educational materials. The primary outcome was change in self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. Secondary outcomes were voucher use, engagement with educational materials, and changes in blood pressure, weight, and body mass index. Generalized estimating equations for repeated measures were used to assess changes in food-group consumption over 5 months. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 57 years, and 65% were women. No difference was detected between arms for self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption. There was an overall 20% (interquartile range, -17% to 93%) increase in fruit and vegetable consumption within both arms. Voucher use was significantly higher in the in-store arm (>90%) than the online arm (<64%). Engagement with educational materials was greater in the in-store arm. No significant changes in weight, body mass index, or blood pressure were observed. CONCLUSIONS: No difference was detected between in-store and online vouchers for fruit and vegetable consumption. Higher engagement and voucher use were observed in the in-store arm than the online arm. Future interventions should be conducted in larger populations and address technological barriers to enhance program effectiveness and assess long-term health impacts. REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/; Unique identifier: NCT06214806.
SN - 2047-9980
ER -