Effect of low vs. high dietary sodium on blood pressure levels in a normotensive Indo-Asian population.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Background
Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor, and while sodium restriction in hypertensive patients appears effective, its role in normotensive individuals remains unclear. We assessed the effect of a low vs. high-sodium diet on blood pressure in normotensive Indo-Asian adults.Methods
A randomized, controlled, crossover trial was conducted on 200 normotensive subjects randomly selected from the general population in Karachi, Pakistan. Participants were randomized to either a low (20 mEq/day) or a high-sodium diet (220 mEq/day) for 1 week, followed by 1 week of washout, then the alternate diet for 1 week. The primary outcome was difference in systolic blood pressure (SBP) measured at the end of each phase in the overall population.Results
Mean (95% confidence interval) decline in 24-h urinary sodium excretion was 81.0 (69.6-92.4) mEq/day (P < 0.001), and in SBP was 1 (0-3)mm Hg (P = 0.17) between high and low-sodium phase. A significant interaction was detected (P = 0.001) between dietary sodium and baseline SBP with a greater adjusted mean (95% confidence interval) decline in SBP (6 (2-9)mm Hg) among participants with high-normal SBP (130-139 mm Hg) and no significant change (-1(-2 to 1)) in those with normal baseline SBP (<130 mm Hg), respectively.Conclusions
Reducing sodium intake has a beneficial effect on blood pressure in Indo-Asians with high-normal SBP, at least in the short term. Given the ubiquity of high-normal blood pressure (BP), and frank hypertension in this population, we argue that primary prevention strategies, targeted at use of discretionary sodium, should now be designed and evaluated.Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Jessani, S; Hatcher, J; Chaturvedi, N; Jafar, TH
Published Date
- November 2008
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 21 / 11
Start / End Page
- 1238 - 1244
PubMed ID
- 18772855
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1941-7225
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0895-7061
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1038/ajh.2008.256
Language
- eng