LONG-TERM MODERATE SODIUM RESTRICTION DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SERUM HDL TOTAL CHOLESTEROL RATIO

We examined the effect of long-term moderate sodium restriction on the HDL/total cholesterol ratio within a randomised trial of the effect o f mineral salt on blood pressure (BP). Eighty nine untreated hypertens ive men and women aged 55-75 years were included in the analysis. Duri ng 24 weeks, 46 subjects used a low sodium, high potassium, high magne sium salt and 43 controls used common salt. Serum cholesterol levels w ere measured at baseline and at the end of the trial. After 24 weeks, 24 h urinary sodium was decreased by 41 mmol (95% CI 23-60 mmol, P < 0 .0001) in the mineral salt group compared with the controls. Serum tot al cholesterol was decreased in both groups, but 0.45 mmol/l (95% CI 0 .12-0.78, P = 0.01) more in the controls than in the mineral salt grou p after adjustment for age, sex and changes in body weight, serum tota l protein and potassium excretion. Serum HDL-cholesterol was decreased by 0.07 mmol/l in the controls and increased by 0.06 mmol/l in the mi neral salt group, yielding a difference of 0.14 mmol/l (95% CI 0.05-0. 22 mmol/l, P = 0.003). The change in HDL/total cholesterol ratio was m ore favourable in the mineral salt group than in the controls (0.014 a nd 0.004 units, respectively, P = 0.14). We conclude that long-term mo derate sodium restriction does not adversely affect the serum HDL/tota l cholesterol ratio and is a safe dietary measure for lowering BP.