Cited by 620Sodium Intake and HealthBlood Pressure and Hypertension StudiesRenin-Angiotensin System Studies

Effects of low sodium diet versus high sodium diet on blood pressure, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, cholesterol, and triglyceride

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Graudal, Niels Albert, Hubeck-Graudal, Thorbjorn, Jurgens, Gesche·2017·Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In spite of more than 100 years of investigations the question of whether a reduced sodium intake improves health is still unsolved. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effects of low sodium intake versus high sodium intake on systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), plasma or serum levels of renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides. SEARCH METHODS: The Cochrane Hypertension Information Specialist searched the following databases for randomized controlled trials up to March 2016: the Cochrane Hypertension Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (2016, Issue 3), MEDLINE (from 1946), Embase (from 1974), the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies randomising persons to low-sodium and high-sodium diets were included if they evaluated at least one of the above outcome parameters. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently collected data, which were analysed with Review Manager 5.3. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 185 studies were included. The average sodium intake was reduced from 201 mmol/day (corresponding to high usual level) to 66 mmol/day (corresponding to the recommended level).The effect of sodium reduction on blood pressure (BP) was as follows: white people with normotension: SBP: mean difference (MD) -1.09 mmHg (95% confidence interval (CI): -1.63 to -0.56; P = 0.0001); 89 studies, 8569 participants; DBP: + 0.03 mmHg (MD 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.43; P = 0.89); 90 studies, 8833 participants. High-quality evidence. Black people with normotension: SBP: MD -4.02 mmHg (95% CI:-7.37 to -0.68; P = 0.002); seven studies, 506 participants; DBP: MD -2.01 mmHg (95% CI:-4.37 to 0.35; P = 0.09); seven studies, 506 participants. Moderate-quality evidence. Asian people with normotension: SBP: MD -0.72 mmHg (95% CI: -3.86 to 2.41; P = 0.65); DBP: MD -1.63 mmHg (95% CI:-3.35 to 0.08; P =0.06); three studies, 393 participants. Moderate-quality evidence.White people with hypertension: SBP: MD -5.51 mmHg (95% CI: -6.45 to -4.57; P < 0.00001); 84 studies, 5925 participants; DBP: MD -2.88 mmHg (95% CI: -3.44 to -2.32; P < 0.00001); 85 studies, 6001 participants. High-quality evidence. Black people with hypertension: SBP MD -6.64 mmHg (95% CI:-9.00 to -4.27; P = 0.00001); eight studies, 619 participants; DBP -2.91 mmHg (95% CI:-4.52, -1.30; P = 0.0004); eight studies, 619 participants. Moderate-quality evidence. Asian people with hypertension: SBP: MD -7.75 mmHg (95% CI:-11,44 to -4.07; P < 0.0001) nine studies, 501 participants; DBP: MD -2.68 mmHg (95% CI: -4.21 to -1.15; P = 0.0006). Moderate-quality evidence.In plasma or serum, there was a significant increase in renin (P < 0.00001), aldosterone (P < 0.00001), noradrenaline (P < 0.00001), adrenaline (P < 0.03), cholesterol (P < 0.0005) and triglyceride (P < 0.0006) with low sodium intake as compared with high sodium intake. All effects were stable in 125 study populations with a sodium intake below 250 mmol/day and a sodium reduction intervention of at least one week. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Sodium reduction from an average high usual sodium intake level (201 mmol/day) to an average level of 66 mmol/day, which is below the recommended upper level of 100 mmol/day (5.8 g salt), resulted in a decrease in SBP/DBP of 1/0 mmHg in white participants with normotension and a decrease in SBP/DBP of 5.5/2.9 mmHg in white participants with hypertension. A few studies showed that these effects in black and Asian populations were greater. The effects on hormones and lipids were similar in people with normotension and hypertension. Renin increased 1.60 ng/mL/hour (55%); aldosterone increased 97.81 pg/mL (127%); adrenalin increased 7.55 pg/mL (14%); noradrenalin increased 63.56 pg/mL: (27%); cholesterol increased 5.59 mg/dL (2.9%); triglyceride increased 7.04 mg/dL (6.3%).

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  • Reduced dietary sodium and the DASH diet are associated with significantly lower systolic blood pressure, with the DASH diet having a greater effect on blood pressure reduction.

    “reduced dietary sodium and the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet are”

    From ESPEN guideline on hospital nutrition (2021) · cites this paper as [157]

    The Discussion (Summary of main results; page unavailable) reports lower systolic blood pressure with sodium reduction, particularly in hypertensive study populations. The paper mentions DASH 2001 but does not report that the DASH diet lowers blood pressure more than sodium reduction; it instead questions that study’s control diet. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Graudal, N. A., Hubeck-Graudal, T., & Jurgens, G.
Affiliations
  • Copenhagen University Hospital (DK)
  • Herning Hospital; Department of Nuclear Medicine; Herning Denmark
  • Roskilde Hospital; Clinical Pharmacology Unit; Roskilde Denmark
Venue
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-04-09
Volume
12
Pages
CD004022-CD004022
ISSN
  • 1361-6137 (ISSN-L)
  • 1465-1858
OpenAlex
W1953196136
Cited by
620
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 50 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 47 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 23
FWCI
4.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Sodium Intake and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Renin-Angiotensin System Studies
Keywords
sodium restriction, high sodium intake, dietary sodium reduction, blood pressure, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, hypertension, normotensive subjects, racial differences, cardiovascular risk factors, randomized controlled trials, meta-analysis of trials, cardiovascular disease prevention, stroke prevention, cardiovascular mortality, cost-effectiveness
MeSH terms
Aldosterone, Blood Pressure, Catecholamines, Cholesterol, Diet, Sodium-Restricted, Epinephrine, Humans, Hypertension, Norepinephrine, Renin, Triglycerides, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Sodium Chloride, Dietary, Black People, White People, Asian People, Recommended Dietary Allowances

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