Effects visible after just one week: Less salt intake helps recovery even in patients taking antihypertensive medications.

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The blood pressure-lowering effect (mean arterial pressure) occurred after just one week in approximately three-quarters of the test subjects and was independent of age, gender, ethnic group, body mass index and diabetes. The team, led by Norrina Allen of Northwestern University in Chicago, presents their work in the journal “Jama”.

High blood pressure is the leading cause of disease and death worldwide, according to the university. “High blood pressure can lead to heart failure, heart attacks and strokes because it puts additional stress on the arteries,” says Allen. Although it was previously known that consumption of table salt (sodium chloride) affects blood pressure, there were still open questions about the exact connection. “Until now, we didn’t know whether people taking blood pressure medications could lower their blood pressure further by reducing their sodium levels,” explains Allen.

In their research, the study authors first determined the amount of sodium a person consumed. About a quarter of the participants had normal blood pressure, while others had controlled, uncontrolled or untreated high blood pressure.

The mean (median) age was 61 and 65 percent of those tested were women. Median systolic blood pressure (the highest value when measuring blood pressure) was 125. The average daily sodium intake was 4.45 grams; this was well above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended value of two grams of sodium (just under five grams). salt) lies.

The researchers divided the subjects into two groups: Participants in one group were first given a diet containing 2.2 grams of sodium per day in addition to their usual salt intake. Those in the other group were allowed to consume a total of 0.5 grams of sodium per day. After a week, the diet plan was changed.

At the end of the first week, the average systolic blood pressure of participants on the low-salt diet was 8 millimeters lower than those on the high-salt diet. No clear statistical association was found with the original blood pressure value or blood pressure status (high pressure, normal pressure). The second week showed a similar result. The blood pressure of the participants who consumed very little residual sodium was, on average, seven millimeters of mercury lower than the others.

Systolic blood pressure increased only minimally with the high-salt diet; Researchers suspect a saturation effect here. 9.9 percent of participants reported mild side effects such as headache, gastrointestinal symptoms and edema. Most participants also tolerated the low-salt diet well. Eight percent reported mild events such as temporary cramps and fatigue.

“Just as any physical activity is better than no physical activity for most people, reducing sodium compared to the usual diet is probably better than no exercise when it comes to blood pressure for most people,” says Deepak Gupta of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. author of the study. (SDA)

Source : Blick