E. Grossman et al., THE EFFECTS OF A COMBINED LOW-SODIUM, HIGH-POTASSIUM, HIGH-CALCIUM DIET ON BLOOD-PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH MILD HYPERTENSION, Journal of human hypertension, 11(12), 1997, pp. 789-794
Nutritional sodium, potassium and calcium are considered to be: import
ant regulators of blood pressure (BP). The present study evaluates the
effects of combined low-sodium (LS), high-potassium (HK), high-calciu
m (HCa) diet on BP in patients with mild essential hypertension. Thirt
y-six patients (26 M, 10 F), 24-67 years of age(mean 46 +/- 8), partic
ipated in the study. Patients were divided into three groups and given
a diet consisting of three 1-month segments, which they followed in d
ifferent order. Group 1 (n = 11) received LS diet followed by the addi
tion of HCa and then HK. The order in Group 2 (n = 12) was HK-LS-HCa;
and in Group 3 (n = 13) it was HCa-HK-LS. The third month of the study
all patients were eating a combined LS, HK and HCa diet. Urinary elec
trolytes were measured to confirm compliance with the diets. After 1 m
onth of the LS diet urinary sodium excretion decreased significantly b
y 25 mmols/day (95% CI, 1-48 mmols/day); (P< 0.05). Eighteen patients
did not comply with the diet. Systolic BP (SBP) only slightly decrease
d, from 142 mm Hg (95% CI, 137-146 mm Hg) to 138 mm Hg (95% CI, 133-14
2 mm Hg); (P = 0.11). The change in SBP was related to the change in u
rinary sodium excretion (R = 0.46; P = 0.006). After 1 month of the HK
diet, urinary potassium excretion increased by only 5 mmols/day (P =
NS). BP was unaffected by HK and HCa diet. At the end of the study, ur
inary sodium excretion decreased from 183 mmols/day (95% CI, 155-211 m
mols/day) to 148 mmols/day (95% CI, 131-165 mmols/day); (P < 0.05), ur
inary potassium excretion slightly increased from 75 mmols/day (95% CI
, 68-82 mmols/day) to 85 mmols/day (95% CT, 76-94 mmols/day); (P = 0.0
9), and urinary calcium excretion remained unchanged. BP did not decre
ase. It is concluded that only the LS diet may be advantageous in pati
ents with mild essential hypertension.