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Increased blood pressure reactivity to dietary salt in patients with the metabolic syndrome

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 438–444 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is a predictor of type II diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms of the increased blood pressure (BP) in patients with the metabolic syndrome are poorly understood. We investigated if salt-sensitivity is a characteristic of the metabolic syndrome. A total of 301 subjects (87male subjects, 214 female subjects) of 41.5±0.7 years of age completed a salt sensitivity test, and were evaluated for the presence of metabolic syndrome. BP and 24-h sodium excretion were obtained under usual, high- and low-salt intakes. BP reactivity to salt was markedly increased in subjects with the metabolic syndrome; its magnitude was directly related to the severity of the syndrome. Reducing dietary salt from the average usual intake (8.2 g/day) to nearly 2.3 g/day lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 8.7±1.3 mm Hg in subjects with four and five traits, 6.0±1.1 in those with three traits and failed to modify the BP of subjects with one or no traits of the syndrome (P<0.0001). Salt restriction reduced the percentage of subjects with metabolic syndrome that were hypertensive (8.2 g/day of salt) from 23.8 to 8.2% (χ2: 23.6; P<0.0001). BP of non-hypertensive subjects with metabolic syndrome was also significantly reduced by salt restriction (7.1±1.5 and 4.2±1.1 mm Hg in those with four or five traits and three traits, respectively). In conclusion, the metabolic syndrome is a strong clinical predictor of salt sensitivity. The enhanced BP reactivity to dietary salt observed in subjects with the metabolic syndrome, may determine the increased BP levels commonly associated with the syndrome.

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Acknowledgements

Support: FONACIT S1-2001000679; CDCH-F.06.00.6248.2006 to ISH, and NSU President's Faculty Scholarship Award to LCX.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for the Detection and Treatment of Silent Risk Factors for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela

    I S Hoffmann & L X Cubeddu

  2. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Health Professions Division, College of Pharmacy, NOVA Southeastern University (NSU), Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

    L X Cubeddu

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  1. I S Hoffmann
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Correspondence to L X Cubeddu.

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Hoffmann, I., Cubeddu, L. Increased blood pressure reactivity to dietary salt in patients with the metabolic syndrome. J Hum Hypertens 21, 438–444 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002153

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