Blood pressure response to dietary sodium restriction in normotensive adults

Abstract

Sixteen healthy, normotensive husband-wife pairs participated in a study to investigate the effect of reduction of dietary sodium intake (goal ≤ 60 mEq/day) on blood pressure. Sodium excretion decreased from a control average of 152.7 ± 10.1 (SE) mEq/day to 69.5 ± 4.5 mEq/day (p < 0.001). Results indicated significant decreases in both systolic (p < 0.001) and diastolic (p < 0.001) blood pressure after a period of sodium restriction. In the entire group, there was no significant change in potassium excretion (58.4 ± 3.2 vs 54.6 ± 3.5 mEq/day) or body weight (76.0 ± 2.8 vs 75.3 ± 2.7 kg). Although there was variability in the blood pressure response, the decrease in blood pressure was significantly correlated with the magnitude of sodium restriction (r = 0.36, p < 0.03). These results indicate that the blood pressure response to sodium restriction may not be limited to individuals with hypertension and that the response is heterogeneous in normotensive subjects. © 1983 American Heart Association, Inc.