[Heterogenicity of hypertension: the various effects of electrolyte intake]

Nonpharmacologic approaches to patients with hypertension are a worthwhile avenue to treatment as well as a laudable public health goal. Reduced salt intake has been the primary dietary measure. However, recently attention has also been directed at potassium, calcium, magnesium, and the anions accompanying these cations. Further, the importance of total caloric intake and confounding dietary variables such as alcohol consumption have been appreciated. It is important to recognize that nutrients are not ingested in isolation, but rather as interactive constituents of a total diet. This principle may account for some of the heterogeneity of the human blood pressure response to variations of individual electrolyte intake. Moreover, failure to appreciate this heterogeneity and interactive effects may result in other than the desired effect in the population at risk.