title: Potassium supplementation versus bendrofluazide in mildly to moderately hypertensive Kenyans.
abstract: Eighty-four consecutive black patients who had confirmed but untreated hypertension participated in a double-blind randomized clinical trial involving potassium supplement (64 mmol/day) versus bendrofluazide (10 mg/day). Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of the 42 patients receiving potassium supplementation (group A) decreased from a mean (+/- SD) of 108 +/- 3 to 88 +/- 4 mm Hg (p less than 0.001; paired t test) after 28 weeks of medication. DBP of the 42 patients receiving bendrofluazide (group B) decreased from a mean of 108 +/- 2 to 84 +/- 4 mm Hg (p less than 0.001; paired t test). There was no statistically significant difference between the magnitude of decrease in DBP in group A and B patients (unpaired t test). No clinical, biochemical, or ECG abnormalities occurred in group A patients. Eight group B patients showed hyperuricemia; 4 patients in the same group had hyperglycemia and 3 other patients had hypokalemia. The results support the notion that potassium supplementation may be an effective therapeutic approach to mildly hypertensive blacks.
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Obel
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Koech
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001539:Bendroflumethiazide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011188:Potassium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D001539:Bendroflumethiazide; D012083:Renin; D011188:Potassium