title: Effects of a sodium-potassium ion-exchanging seaweed preparation in mild hypertension.
abstract: A nonpharmacological approach in the treatment of mild hypertension is often advocated. In an attempt to decrease sodium and increase potassium intake, sixty-two middle-aged patients with mild hypertension were given a potassium loaded ion-exchanging sodium-adsorbing potassium-releasing seaweed preparation (seaweed fiber, SF). The mean blood pressure (MBP), evaluated in a double-blind crossover manner with four weeks familiarization and wash-out periods, showed a significant decrease after four weeks on 12 and 24 g/day SF but not on 6 g/day or placebo treatment. Systolic blood pressure during submaximal exercise decreased on all three SF doses. The decrease in MBP appeared to be significantly higher in sodium-sensitive (11.2 mm Hg, P less than .001) than in sodium-insensitive (5.7 mm Hg, P less than .05) patients and was in salt-sensitive patients significantly correlated to the increase in plasma renin activity (PRA). The urinary sodium excretion decreased, the urinary potassium increased and the sodium/potassium urinary excretion ratio decreased, indicating that the decrease of MBP was dependent on the decreased intestinal absorption of sodium and increased absorption of potassium released from the seaweed preparation. A sodium-potassium ion-exchanging seaweed preparation is an effective means of decreasing sodium and increasing potassium intake, and may be used for antihypertensive treatment in mild hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krotkiewski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aurell
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grimby
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szczepanik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000652:urine; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012624:Seaweed / Q000502:physiology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000652:urine; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D012964:Sodium; D007501:Iron; D012083:Renin; D011188:Potassium