Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
High sodium and low potassium have been associated with detrimental effects on blood pressure. However, the role of these minerals in endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation, which may predispose to cardiovascular disease, has not yet been established. We performed a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study to examine the effects of sodium and potassium supplementation on endothelial function and inflammation in untreated (pre)hypertensive adults.
DESIGN AND METHOD:
During the study, subjects were on a fully controlled diet that contained on average 2.4 g of sodium and 2.3 g of potassium per day for a 2500 kcal intake. After one-week run-in, subjects were randomized to ingest capsules with supplemental sodium (3 g/d), supplemental potassium (3 g/d), or placebo, for four weeks each, in random order. After each intervention period, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, and circulating biomarkers of endothelial function (e.g. nitric oxide, endothelin-1, cellular adhesion molecules) and inflammation (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein, interleukins) were measured.
RESULTS:
Of 37 randomized subjects, 36 completed the study. Subjects had a mean pre-treatment blood pressure of 145/81 mmHg. Sodium supplementation increased serum endothelin-1 by 0.24 pg/ml (95% CI: 0.03, 0.45), but had no effect on other endothelial or inflammatory biomarkers, or flow-mediated dilation. Potassium supplementation reduced interleukin-8 levels by 0.28 pg/ml (95% CI: 0.03, 0.53), without affecting other circulating biomarkers. Flow-mediated dilation was 1.16% (95% CI: 0.37, 1.96) higher after potassium supplementation than after placebo, with 83% of the subjects showing an improvement (Figure).
CONCLUSIONS:
Sodium and potassium supplementation had little impact on circulating endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers, and only for potassium an effect on flow-mediated dilation was observed. This study suggests different actions for sodium and potassium in the pathophysiological processes leading to cardiovascular disease.(Figure is included in full-text article.).
High sodium and low potassium have been associated with detrimental effects on blood pressure. However, the role of these minerals in endothelial dysfunction and low-grade inflammation, which may predispose to cardiovascular disease, has not yet been established. We performed a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study to examine the effects of sodium and potassium supplementation on endothelial function and inflammation in untreated (pre)hypertensive adults.
DESIGN AND METHOD:
During the study, subjects were on a fully controlled diet that contained on average 2.4 g of sodium and 2.3 g of potassium per day for a 2500 kcal intake. After one-week run-in, subjects were randomized to ingest capsules with supplemental sodium (3 g/d), supplemental potassium (3 g/d), or placebo, for four weeks each, in random order. After each intervention period, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, and circulating biomarkers of endothelial function (e.g. nitric oxide, endothelin-1, cellular adhesion molecules) and inflammation (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein, interleukins) were measured.
RESULTS:
Of 37 randomized subjects, 36 completed the study. Subjects had a mean pre-treatment blood pressure of 145/81 mmHg. Sodium supplementation increased serum endothelin-1 by 0.24 pg/ml (95% CI: 0.03, 0.45), but had no effect on other endothelial or inflammatory biomarkers, or flow-mediated dilation. Potassium supplementation reduced interleukin-8 levels by 0.28 pg/ml (95% CI: 0.03, 0.53), without affecting other circulating biomarkers. Flow-mediated dilation was 1.16% (95% CI: 0.37, 1.96) higher after potassium supplementation than after placebo, with 83% of the subjects showing an improvement (Figure).
CONCLUSIONS:
Sodium and potassium supplementation had little impact on circulating endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers, and only for potassium an effect on flow-mediated dilation was observed. This study suggests different actions for sodium and potassium in the pathophysiological processes leading to cardiovascular disease.(Figure is included in full-text article.).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | e72 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Journal of Hypertension |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | S1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2015 |
| Event | 25th European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection - Milan, Italy, Italy Duration: 12 Jun 2015 → 15 Jun 2015 |
