Severe sodium restriction alone and with potassium supplementation does not alter blood lipoproteins in essential...

Seventeen 50-year-old men, previously untreated and all with mild to moderate essential hypertension, were given a low sodium diet for 2 weeks. During the second week, the diet was supplemented with potassium. Urinary excretion of Na+ decreased from 201 +/- 11 to 24 +/- 5 and 19 +/- 4 mmol 24 h-1, respectively, after 1 and 2 weeks (means +/- SE) while the urinary Na+: K+ ratio changed from 2:1 to 1:4 and 1:11. Despite significant changes in blood pressure, body weight, serum electrolytes, sympathetic noradrenergic tone, haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit, no significant change appeared in serum total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol or triglycerides. Thus, low sodium diet alone and combined with potassium supplementation seems neutral to blood lipoproteins in the treatment of essential hypertension.