Can moderate dietary salt restriction help patients with hypertension?
Moderate dietary salt restriction improves blood pressure and mental well-being in patients with primary aldosteronism: the salt CONNtrol trial
Background
The primary aldosteronism (AP) is a common cause of hypertension. Excess aldosterone along with high dietary salt intake aggravates cardiovascular damage, despite treatment with mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (ARRs) recommended by guidelines.
Objectives
To investigate the antihypertensive impact of moderate dietary salt restriction and associated physiological changes, including mental well-being.
Methods
A total of 41 patients with PA on a stable antihypertensive regimen, including MRA, followed dietary salt restriction for 12 weeks with structured nutritional training and consolidation using a mobile health app.Salt intake and adherence were monitored every 4 weeks using 24-hour urine sodium excretion and nutrition protocols. Body composition was assessed using bioimpedance analysis and mental well-being using validated questionnaires.
Results
Dietary salt intake decreased significantly from 9.1 to 5.2 g/d at the end of the study. At the same time, systolic (130 vs. 121 mm Hg) and diastolic (BP) (84 vs. 81 mm Hg) blood pressure improved significantly.
Patients’ ability to estimate dietary salt content was significantly refined (underestimate of 2.4 versus 1.4 g/d). Salt restriction resulted in significant weight loss of 1.4 kg, improvement in pulse pressure (46 vs 40 mmHg) and normalization of depressive symptoms (PHQD scale, p <0.05).
Salt restriction, cortisol after dexamethasone suppression testing, and dose of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers (RAAS) were independently associated with BP reduction.
Source — https://www.intramed.net/103901