title: Sodium intake and blood pressure in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is common among renal transplant recipients (RTR) and a risk factor for graft failure and mortality. Sodium intake is a well-established determinant of blood pressure (BP) in the general population. However, data in RTR are limited. International guidelines recommend a maximum daily sodium intake of 70 mmol. We investigated sodium intake in RTR as compared to healthy controls and its association with BP.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 660 RTR (age 53 ± 13 years, 58% male) and 201 healthy controls (age 54 ± 11 years, 46% male). Sodium intake was assessed from 24-h urine collections. The morning after completion of urine collection, BP was measured according to a strict protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary sodium excretion was 156 ± 62 mmol/24 h in RTR and 195 ± 75 in controls (difference: P < 0.001), and 95% of RTR had a urinary sodium excretion >70 mmol/24 h. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were 136 ± 18 and 82 ± 11 mmHg, respectively. Sodium intake was positively associated with SBP (β = 0.042 mmHg/mmol/24 h, P = 0.002) and DBP (β = 0.023 mmHg/mmol/24 h, P = 0.007), independent of potential confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although RTR had a lower sodium intake than healthy controls, their intake still exceeded current guidelines. Reduction of sodium intake to recommended amounts could reduce SBP by 4-5 mmHg. Better control of sodium intake may help to prevent graft failure and mortality due to hypertension among RTR.
authors.affiliation: Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands. e.van.den.berg@int.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Else
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.forename: Johanna M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Geleijnse
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Brink
authors.forename: Marleen A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Baak
authors.forename: Jaap J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Homan van der Heide
authors.forename: Rijk O B
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Gans
authors.forename: Gerjan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Navis
authors.forename: Stephan J L
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bakker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012964:Sodium / Q000652:urine; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D012964:Sodium