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Relationship of urinary sodium/potassium excretion and calcium intake to blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension among older Chinese vegetarians

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 299–304 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To examine the associations of dietary sodium and potassium, as reflected by the urinary sodium/potassium excretion, and calcium intake with blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension among older Chinese vegetarians in Hong Kong.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Research clinic in a teaching hospital in Hong Kong.

Subjects: A total of 111 ambulatory vegetarians over the age of 55 were recruited from members of religious organizations or old age hostels.

Main outcome measures: Hypertension was defined as supine blood pressure >140/90 mmHg or a history of hypertension. Dietary sodium, potassium and calcium intakes were assessed by 24 h recall method or fasting urinary sodium or potassium/creatinine ratios.

Results: Seventy-one subjects (64%) were found to have hypertension. Compared with normotensive subjects, hypertensive subjects had lower calcium intake (411±s.d. 324 vs 589±428 mg, P=0.04), but higher urinary sodium/creatinine ratio (32.6±19.3 vs 21.0±12.4, P=0.00) and sodium/potassium ratio (4.7±2.8 vs 3.4±2.3, P=0.02). Among 88 subjects not taking diuretics or antihypertensive drugs, systolic blood pressure was related to calcium intake (r=−0.40), urinary sodium/creatinine ratio (r=0.39), urinary sodium/potassium ratio (r=0.30) and age (r=0.23). Diastolic blood pressure was related to urinary sodium/creatinine (r=0.29). Twenty-three subjects with high urinary sodium/potassium and low calcium intake and 16 subjects with low urinary sodium/potassium ratio and high calcium intake differed markedly with respect to systolic blood pressure (159±26 vs 130±15 mmHg) and prevalence of hypertension (78% vs 25%).

Conclusion: Older Chinese vegetarians are predisposed to hypertension because of their sodium-rich but calcium-deficient diets.

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Author notes

  1. T C Y Kwok: Guarantor: TCY Kwok.

  2. T C Y Kwok, T Y K Chan and J Woo: Contributors: TCY Kwok, TYK Chan, J Woo.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong

    T C Y Kwok, T Y K Chan & J Woo

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Correspondence to T C Y Kwok.

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Kwok, T., Chan, T. & Woo, J. Relationship of urinary sodium/potassium excretion and calcium intake to blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension among older Chinese vegetarians. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 299–304 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601553

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601553

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