High Salt Content of Western Infant's Diet : Possible Relationship to Hypertension in the Adult

Abstract

IN support of investigations on the ætiological role of chronic excess salt ingestion in human hypertension¹ we have repeatedly induced experimental hypertension in rats by chronically feeding a diet high in sodium (chloride), similar to that described by Meneely et al.². We have observed that, if high salt intakes are initiated at the time of weaning (3 weeks of age), such rats are much more prone to develop hypertension than are older animals. Meneely and Ball³ observed that 2-year-old rats developed significantly less hypertension than did younger rats on the same high sodium regimen. Investigations at present in progress here to quantify the physiological consequences of salt administration to youthful animals clearly confirm these previous experiences.