Minerals and hypertension: facts and fiction

Several new observations have been made in the evaluation of the relationsh ip of mineral intake to blood pressure. For the first time it has been poss ible to demonstrate a presser effect of salt intake in non-human primates a nd within a society. New information concerning enhanced cardiovascular ris k of salt-sensitive hypertension and the role of the renin system in this p henomenon has been obtained. Potassium intake as well as other dietary inte rventions has been shown to be effective in lowering blood pressure. Curr O pin Nephrol Hypertens 8:225-229. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.