The role of salt in hypertension

Epidemiological data indicate a weak but significant positive correlation between the level of salt intake and blood pressure. It is unclear how this relationship is mediated but some studies indicate that heredity for hypertension is associated with an increased sensitivity to salt. Decrease of the salt intake decreases blood pressure in established hypertension and should be used as a therapeutic adjuvant in mild uncomplicated hypertension much more often than is now the case. Increased salt intake in young subjects with or without heredity for hypertension does not seem to increase the blood pressure during a 4-12 week load. Increased salt intake in middle-aged men, on the other hand, seem to induce a blood pressure increase irrespective of the presence or absence of a positive family history. The sensitivity to a high salt intake might thus be associated with aging. Increase of the salt intake from the normal level seems to induce an increase in sympathetic nervous activity. The interplay between the level of salt intake and sympathetic nervous activity should be studied in more detail.