[A study of the relationship between blood pressure and mineral intake in elderly Dutch subjects]

In a nationwide survey among 530 apparently healthy elderly people, aged 65-79 years, the prevalence of hypertension was 58% in males and 68% in females. About 40% of them had no medical antihypertensive treatment. After exclusion of subjects on antihypertensive medication or on a prescribed diet, the energy, fat, alcohol, potassium and calcium intake, the sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium excretion in the 24-hour urine and the Quetelet Index of normotensive elderly were compared with those of hypertensive elderly. Hypertensive males had a higher sodium:potassium ratio and a lower potassium:creatinine ratio in the 24-hour urine. Hypertensive females had a higher calcium excretion. No differences were observed between normotensive and hypertensive elderly in the mineral intake, whereas there were some differences in mineral excretions with the urine. The correlations of the mineral excretions with the creatinine clearance proved to be stronger among hypertensives. This might indicate a lower bioavailability and (or) aberrant metabolism of minerals (especially calcium in hypertensive women and potassium in hypertensive men).