Sodium intake is positively associated with blood pressure

January 01, 0001

Sodium intake is positively associated with blood pressure

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between dietary sodium intake, as measured by urinary electrolyte excretion, and blood pressure within a population of older Australian adults. It consisted of a cross- sectional study of adults enrolled in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, stratified by sex, country of birth (Italy, Greece, Australia/New Zealand) and age (50-59 and 60-75 years). Blood pressure measurements were taken in 2003-2007 and 24- hour urine collections in 2007-2008. The mean age of 783 participants was 64.0 years.

Mean urinary sodium was 155.1 mmol/day (8.9 g salt/day), urinary potassium was 82.3 mmol/day, and urinary sodium-to-potassium ratio was 1.99. In the 587 participants with blood pressure measurements, urinary sodium and the sodium-to-potassium ratio were both associated with systolic blood pressure in all adjusted and unadjusted models (mmHg change per 100 mmol/day increase in sodium: regression coefficient,, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, country of birth and antihypertensive medication use).

The researchers concluded: "This study has demonstrated, for the first time within an Australian population sample of older adults, that sodium intake is positively associated with blood pressure. These results suggest that a population-wide reduction in sodium intake could be effective in reducing blood pressure in adults in Australia."

Further evidence of this connection.


For the full abstract, click here.

MJA 195(3):128-132, 1 August 2011 © 2011 ro The Medical Journal of Australia
Relationship of urinary sodium and sodium-to- potassium ratio to blood pressure in older adults in Australia. Catherine E Huggins, Sharleen O’Reilly, Maree Brinkman et al.

Category: K. Circulatory. Keywords: urinary, sodium, potassium, ratio, blood pressure, cross-sectional cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Stephen Wilkinson, Melbourne, Australia. Posted on Global Family Doctor 16 September 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

COVID-19 Resources

WONCA webinars, journal links and more

WONCA position statements

WONCA statements on a variety of issues

PEARLS

577 Individual behavioural counselling helps people to quit smoking 575 Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements may be beneficial in age-related macular degeneration 574 Oral antifungals effective for toenail onychomycosis 570 Decision aids beneficial for people facing health treatment or screening decisions 569 Computer-generated reminders on paper benefit quality of care