Blood pressure effects of low- and high-salt diets
I
n this Cochrane review, researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital, in Denmark, estimated the effects of low-sodium vs. high-sodium intake on blood pressure (BP), renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, and lipids.
First, the details.
- 167 studies were included in the review.
- All reported results are statistically significant.
And, the results.
- Effect of sodium reduction in normotensive Caucasians:
- Systolic BP (SBP) -1.27 mmHg
- Diastolic BP (DBP) -0.05 mmHg
- Normotensive Blacks:
- SBP -4.02
- DBP -2.01
- Normotensive Asians:
- SBP -1.27
- DBP -1.68
- Hypertensive Caucasians:
- SBP -5.48
- DBP -2.75
- Hypertensive Blacks:
- SBP -6.44
- DBP -2.40
- Hypertensive Asians:
- SBP -10.21
- DBP -2.60
- Sodium reduction resulted in significant increases in…
- Renin
- Aldosterone
- Noradrenalin
- Adrenaline
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
The bottom line?
The authors concluded, “Sodium reduction resulted in a significant decrease in BP of 1% (normotensives), 3.5% (hypertensives), and a significant increase in plasma renin, plasma aldosterone, plasma adrenaline, and plasma noradrenalin, a 2.5% increase in cholesterol, and a 7% increase in triglyceride.”
Statistically, but probably not clinically significant changes. The average drop in systolic blood pressure was -1.27 and diastolic BP was -0.5 — a negligible benefit, according to the authors
In fact, “”Due to the relatively small effects and… the antagonistic nature of the effects [of the other hormones measured]…these results do not support that sodium may have net beneficial effects in a population of Caucasians.”
More research is need in Asians and African-Americans.
1/24/12 23:52 JR
