Na:K ratio and hypertension

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The text about dietary guidelines indicates that there is a " large

body of evidence linking a lower dietary sodium-potassium ratio to

lower blood pressure " .

Tony

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http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga95/10DIETDI.HTM

The probable benefits of increased consumption of fruits and

vegetables high in potassium, in conjunction with sodium reduction for

high blood pressure risk reduction, are now mentioned in the text to

acknowledge the large body of evidence linking a lower dietary

sodium-potassium ratio to lower blood pressure. Based on the evidence

reviewed, the committee considered it appropriate to express this

advice in terms of fruits and vegetables, rather than potassium (a

salt substitute, for example) as such. This advice reinforces the

guideline to consume fruits and vegetables.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=3\

475416 & dopt=Abstract

J Hypertens Suppl. 1986 Dec;4(6):S27-30. Related Articles, Links

Relationships between blood pressure and urinary sodium,

potassium, calcium and magnesium in Bantu of Zaire.

M'Buyamba-Kabangu JR, Lijnen P, Staessen J, Fagard R, Lissens W,

Mbuy wa Mbuy R, Amery A.

The relationships between blood pressure and 24-h urinary sodium,

potassium, calcium and magnesium were investigated in adult men and

women constituting a random sample of urban Bantu of Zaire. Blood

pressure and the 24-h urinary sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium

averaged 124 +/- 20/72 +/- 14 mmHg, 87 +/- 51 mmol, 33 +/- 19 mmol,

828 +/- 91 mumol and 1.9 +/- 1.6 mmol, respectively. After adjusting

for sex, age, body weight and pulse rate, systolic pressure was

significantly and positively correlated with urinary sodium in all

subjects and in women taken separately; it was also negatively

correlated with urinary potassium, while diastolic pressure was weakly

associated with urinary calcium. When instead of the 24-h urinary

sodium and potassium the sodium: potassium ratio was considered as an

independent variable in multiple regression analysis, it was

correlated with both systolic and diastolic pressure. Our results

indicate that age, body weight, pulse rate, sex and the sodium:

potassium ratio contribute to the prediction of systolic and diastolic

blood pressure, while urinary calcium was only associated with

diastolic pressure.

PMID: 3475416