A groundbreaking study indicates that a decrease in sodium consumption can substantially diminish blood pressure levels, even for those undergoing hypertension treatment. Participants who reduced their salt intake by roughly one teaspoon daily witnessed a significant fall in their systolic blood pressure, underscoring the vital influence of dietary habits in blood pressure regulation.
Reducing salt intake is a universally applicable method to lower blood pressure, including for individuals on blood pressure medication.
The latest research from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham reveals that nearly everyone, including those on blood pressure medication, can reduce their blood pressure by cutting back on sodium.
Deepak Gupta, M.D., MSCI, associate professor of Medicine at VUMC and co-principal investigator of the study, notes that participants, primarily middle-aged and older, lowered their salt intake by about a teaspoon daily. This resulted in a decrease in systolic blood pressure by approximately 6 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), a reduction similar to what is seen with standard blood pressure medication.
Norrina Allen, Ph.D., MPH, professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and co-principal investigator, states that about 70-75% of individuals, irrespective of their current blood pressure medication status, could see a decrease in blood pressure by reducing dietary sodium.
This research is among the most extensive in exploring how dietary sodium reduction affects blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, including those already on medication. It sheds new light on whether people on blood pressure medication can achieve further reductions by lowering their sodium intake.
The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on November 11 and presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2023 in Philadelphia.
The American Heart Association recommends a daily sodium intake below 1,500 milligrams. This study aimed to reduce sodium intake even further, a challenging but beneficial endeavor, according to Allen.
High blood pressure is a primary global cause of illness and death, leading to heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes due to increased arterial pressure. This condition hampers the heart’s efficiency in pumping blood.
Study Methodology
Participants, aged 50 to 70, from Birmingham, Alabama, and Chicago, were assigned to either a high-sodium (2,200 mg/day) or low-sodium diet (500 mg/day) for one week, then switched to the alternate diet for another week.
Before each study visit, participants monitored their blood pressure and collected 24-hour urine samples. The study, involving 213 participants, found that systolic blood pressure decreased by 7 to 8 mm Hg on a low-sodium diet compared to a high-sodium diet, and by 6 mm Hg compared to their usual diet. Approximately 72% of participants observed a decrease in systolic blood pressure on the low-sodium diet.
Study Findings and Implications
Gupta highlights that the blood pressure-lowering effect of sodium reduction was consistent across various groups, including those with normal, high, treated, or untreated blood pressure.
The study confirms the importance of sodium reduction in diet for controlling blood pressure, even for those on hypertension medications, according to Allen. The blood pressure-lowering effect was rapid and safe, occurring within a week.
Public Health Significance
The study’s co-investigator, Cora Lewis, MD, MSPH, emphasized the significant public health implications given the swift and well-tolerated blood pressure reduction within a week. This is especially relevant considering the global prevalence of high blood pressure. The use of widely available low-sodium diet products offers a practical approach to improving health through dietary changes, Lewis adds.
The study, titled “Effect of Dietary Sodium on Blood Pressure: A Crossover Trial,” was supported by grants from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, with the content representing the authors’ views and not necessarily those of the National Institutes of Health.
Additional contributors to the study include Krista Varady, Ph.D., Yan Ru Su, M.D., Meena Madhur, M.D., Ph.D., Daniel Lackland, Ph.D., Jared Reis, Ph.D., Thomas Wang, M.D., and Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sodium Reduction Blood Pressure
Does reducing sodium intake lower blood pressure in individuals already on medication?
Yes, the study shows that nearly everyone, including those on blood pressure medication, can lower their blood pressure by reducing sodium intake.
What was the significant finding of the sodium reduction study?
The study found that a reduction of about one teaspoon of salt per day led to a decrease in systolic blood pressure by around 6 mm Hg, similar to the effect of standard blood pressure medication.
Who conducted the research on sodium reduction and blood pressure?
The research was a collaborative effort by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
What age group did the study focus on for sodium reduction and blood pressure?
The study focused on middle-aged to elderly individuals, ranging from their 50s to 70s.
What is the recommended daily sodium intake according to the American Heart Association?
The American Heart Association recommends a daily sodium intake to be below 1,500 milligrams.
How did the study measure the impact of sodium reduction on blood pressure?
Participants were randomized to high-sodium and low-sodium diets for one week each, with blood pressure monitored and 24-hour urine samples collected before each study visit.
What percentage of participants saw a reduction in blood pressure on a low-sodium diet?
Approximately 72% of participants experienced a lowering of their systolic blood pressure on the low-sodium diet compared to their usual diet.
More about Sodium Reduction Blood Pressure
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center Study
- Northwestern Medicine Research
- University of Alabama at Birmingham Findings
- Journal of the American Medical Association Publication
- American Heart Association Sodium Guidelines
- National Institutes of Health Grant Information
- Blood Pressure Monitoring Methods
4 comments
Great to see such comprehensive research, but I’m still skeptical. How can a small change in diet compare to meds?
Reducing sodium is easier said than done, especially with how much salt is in processed foods! Still, it’s encouraging to see the potential health benefits.
a teaspoon less of salt seems doable, but I wonder how they measured that precisely across all participants. its a bit vague dont you think?
wow, didn’t know just cutting a bit of salt could make such a big difference in blood pressure. interesting stuff