LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF NEONATAL SODIUM RESTRICTION ON BLOOD-PRESSURE

In 1980, a randomized trial was conducted among 476 Dutch newborn infa nts to study the effect of a low or normal sodium diet on blood pressu re during the first 6 months of life. At the end of the trial, systoli c blood pressure in the low sodium group (n=231) was 2.1 mm Hg lower t han in the control group (n=245). To investigate whether contrasting l evels of sodium intake in infancy are associated with blood pressure d ifferences in adolescence, we measured blood pressure in 167 children from the original cohort (35%) after 15 years of follow-up. We assesse d the differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels betw een the diet groups using a multivariate regression model with adjustm ent for potential confounders. The adjusted systolic blood pressure at follow-up was 3.6 mm Hg lower (95% confidence interval, -6.6 to -0.5) and the diastolic pressure was 2.2 mm Hg lower (95% confidence interv al, -4.5 to 0.2) in children who had been assigned to the low sodium g roup (n=71) compared with the control group (n=96). These findings sug gest that sodium intake in infancy may be important in relation to blo od pressure later in life.