High-carbohydrate diet: antinatriuretic and blood pressure response in normal men

The hypothesis that high-carbohydrate feeding leads to increased insulin secretion, sodium retention, and elevation in blood pressure was examined in seven healthy men. A baseline 7-day balance study on low (13%) or high (52%) carbohydrate was followed by a 2-wk balance on the alternate diet and a 1-wk balance on the baseline diet. Results indicated that changing carbohydrate intake caused a rapid (2-3 day) inverse change in urinary sodium excretion and balance. By the second week, however, urinary-sodium level returned to baseline accompanied by an inverse change in plasma aldosterone. No significant rise in blood pressure was detected throughout the study. High-carbohydrate feeding promotes sodium retention in normal subjects, but the effect is counterregulated by a reduction in plasma aldosterone. A high-carbohydrate diet in healthy subjects does not cause a significant short-term increase in blood pressure.