title: [Field observation on the effect of low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitute on blood pressure in the rural community-based population in China].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of commercial low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitutes on blood pressure in the rural community-based population in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a quasi-experiment on 411 adults, who were 30 to 60 years of age, in 2 rural communities from Laiwu city in Shandong province of China on data from blood pressure screening. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: high blood pressure (HBP) and non-HBP (NHBP). Both groups and their family members took a low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitute for 3 months to replace the normal salt in their bodies. Blood pressure (BP) and 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium were measured regularly in the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a continuously decreasing trend for BP at the end of the first month. Three months later, the mean BP decreased by 7.4 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa, t = 10.096, P = 0.000) for SBP and 3.8 mm Hg (t = 8.017, P = 0.000) for DBP in the HBP group, when compared to a 1.2 mm Hg (t = 2.507, P = 0.007) decrease on SBP and 1.0 mm Hg (t = 2.987, P = 0.002) on DBP in the NHBP group. The mean urinary sodium had a decrease of 15.5 mmol/24 h (t = 1.803, P = 0.037), but the urinary potassium increased by 4.2 mmol/24 h (t' = 2.132, P = 0.018). The result of urinary sodium appeared to be as follows: potassium ratio (Na(+)/K(+)) decreased by 1.2 (t = 2.786, P = 0.003) in the HBP group. However, in NHBP group, the mean urinary sodium decreased by 1.7 mmol/24 h (t = 0.211, P = 0.417) and urinary potassium increased by 3.7 mmol/24 h (t' = 2.207, P = 0.015), together with the decrease of Na(+)/K(+) by 0.7 (t = 1.818, P = 0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from our study clearly demonstrated that the intake of low-sodium and high-potassium salt substitute could effectively reduce the BP with good compliance among adults in the rural community-based population in China. This was an effective but non-medical method to prevent and control the high blood pressure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Gao-hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ji-xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiao-lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ji-yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jun-ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Jun-li
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Ai-qiang
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017419:Potassium, Dietary; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D017419:Potassium, Dietary