Physicians' Academy for Cardiovascular Education

Nearly linear relationship between sodium intake and BP in individuals with and without hypertension

Blood Pressure Effects of Sodium Reduction: Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies

Literature - Filippini T, Malavolti M, Whelton PK, et al. - Circulation. 2021 Feb 15. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.050371.

Introduction and methods

There has been a general acceptance of the association of sodium intake and elevated blood pressure (BP), but some challenge the effectiveness of reduced dietary sodium for BP lowering in individuals without hypertension, and for DBP [1-3].

To date, the exact shape of the dose-response association curve between BP and the entire range of sodium intake is not well known yet, because of heterogeneity across studies. This is due to a lack of flexible models that are capable of including studies with less than 3 comparisons, like 2-arm RCTs [1]. A novel 1-stage or mixed-effects model has recently become available, in which studies with a single comparison can be included in the estimation of heterogeneous and possibly curvilinear dose-response relationships [4,5].

This study conducted a comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis of clinical trials that had investigated the effect of dietary sodium intake on BP over a wide range of sodium exposures using the novel 1 stage cubic spline mixed-effects model.

Trials that were included had 1) at least 4 weeks of follow-up; 2) 24-hour urinary sodium excretion measurements; 3) sodium intervention through dietary modification or sodium reduction followed by supplementation by sodium or placebo; 4) participants with or without hypertension, 5) SBP and DBP measurements before and after the intervention, 6) comparator being normal/high sodium or placebo treatment comparison, without mixed intervention components . In total, 85 trials were included, that had a sodium intake range from 0.4-7.6 g/day. Data from participants with hypertension (n=65), without hypertension (n=11), or a combination of both (n=9) were pooled and assessed for the effect of achieved sodium intake on SBP and DBP levels. As a reference value, 87 mmol/day sodium intake was used, which corresponds to the defined safe intake of 2 g sodium per day or 5 g salt per day [6]. Participants were stratified to sodium intervention, hypertension status, or trial duration. Sodium intervention included sodium intake reduction followed by administration of a sodium-containing supplement to one group (n=43), or diet modification aimed at sodium reduction (n=38). Follow-up ranged from 4 weeks to 36 months.

Main results

Conclusion

This dose-response meta-analysis demonstrated a nearly linear relationship between sodium intake and mean SBP as well as DBP, without an indication of flattening of the curve at both ends of the sodium exposure range and independent of hypertension status and sodium exposure time. Dietary modifications had a stronger dose-response effect on SBP and DBP than sodium supplementation, with a steeper curve for SBP compared to DBP. The effect of sodium reduction on SBP was more prominent in individuals with hypertension than in those without.

References

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