Increased dietary sodium chloride in patients treated with antihypertensive drugs

Eleven patients on a normal diet with mild to moderate essential hypertension satisfactorily treated with diverse hypotensive agents entered a randomized double-blind cross-over study to evaluate the effect of additional sodium chloride (100 mmol slow sodium) compared with placebo on blood pressure control over a 6 week period. Despite excellent tablet compliance, sodium chloride failed to significantly alter mean supine or erect blood pressure. These findings as well as a review of the relevant literature suggest that excess dietary sodium does not jeopardize blood pressure control in such patients.