title: Salt, volume and the prevention of hypertension.
abstract: The evidence supporting the thesis that hypertension can be prevented by eliminating salt from the diet is based on four principal sources: (1) epidemiological studies in unacculturated peoples showing that the prevalence of hypertension is inversely correlated with the degree of salt intake; (2) hemodynamic studies suggesting that the development of chronic experimental hypertension is a homeostatic response to a maintained increase in extracellular fluid volume (ECF); (3) evidence that the ECF of "salt eaters" is expanded in comparison to that of "no-salt eaters"; and (4) investigations in hypertensive patients receiving either diets greatly restricted in salt or continuous diuretic therapy which correlate the fall in blood pressure with a reduction in ECF. Although this mechanism of essential hypertension is still obscure the evidence is very good if not conclusive that reduction of salt in the diet to below 2 g/day would result in the prevention of essential hypertension and its disappearance as a major public health problem.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000450:Aldosterone / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003469:Culture; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005110:Extracellular Space; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009318:Natriuresis; D012083:Renin / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics; D000450:Aldosterone; D012083:Renin