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Sodium depresses arterial baroreceptor reflex function in normotensive humans
M A Creager1, M A Roddy, K M Holland
1Vascular Medicine and Atherosclerosis Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. 02115.
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|June 1, 1991
Summary
High sodium intake impairs arterial baroreceptor reflex function in healthy individuals. This effect on blood pressure regulation is not linked to changes in arterial compliance.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Human Nutrition
- Hypertension Pathogenesis
Background:
- Sodium intake is implicated in hypertension development.
- Arterial baroreceptor reflex plays a crucial role in blood pressure homeostasis.
- Potential link between sodium, baroreceptor function, and arterial compliance needs investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of a high-sodium diet on baroreceptor reflex function in normotensive humans.
- To investigate the relationship between baroreceptor reflex alterations and changes in arterial compliance under varying sodium intake.
Main Methods:
- Randomized crossover trial with 17 normotensive men on low (10 meq/day) and high (200 meq/day) sodium diets for 5 days each.
- Carotid baroreceptor reflex function assessed via blood pressure response to neck suction and pressure.
- Arterial compliance evaluated using diastolic blood pressure decay time constant and forearm vascular resistance.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in average blood pressure between low and high sodium diets.
- Baroreceptor reflex slopes were significantly steeper on the low sodium diet compared to the high sodium diet.
- No significant differences in diastolic blood pressure decay time or forearm arterial compliance were observed.
Conclusions:
- Short-term high sodium intake depresses carotid baroreceptor reflex function in normotensive individuals.
- The observed impairment in baroreceptor reflex function is independent of changes in arterial compliance.