title: Electrolytes and hypertension: results from recent studies.
abstract: The effects of dietary electrolytes on blood pressure may start as early as the prenatal period as there is evidence to suggest that a high maternal calcium, magnesium, and potassium intake is reflected in lower infant blood pressure levels. One randomized trial in newborn infants suggested that, in this early phase, high sodium intake is associated with an increased blood pressure change. Such a sodium effect is not present when children grow older, and between 6 and 16 years a high potassium intake appears to limit the increase in blood pressure. Recent observational population studies have shown that the association between dietary sodium intake and blood pressure level in adults is less than initially reported. In randomized trials, the average fall in blood pressure from moderate sodium restriction is small, although benefits may be larger in the elderly. A high potassium intake has consistently been shown to reduce blood pressure levels in treated and untreated hypertensive subjects, although the overall effects are modest. The available data on calcium are difficult to interpret. From observational studies an inverse association between dietary calcium intake and blood pressure levels has repeatedly been reported. Also, several disturbances in calcium metabolism in hypertensive subjects have been demonstrated. Findings in randomized trials are less consistent and indicate a marked heterogeneity in response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical School, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012964:Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium