RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF A NO-ADDED-SODIUM DIET FOR MILD HYPERTENSION

Reduction of sodium intake permitted drug treatment to be substantially reduced without side-effects or loss of blood-pressure control, and the diet group reported feeling happier, less depressed, and less dependent on analgesics.

Abstract

90 patients on medication for mild hypertension were randomly allocated to diet and control groups and kept under surveillance by their own doctors every 2 weeks for 12 weeks to test the short-term effectiveness of a diet free from sodium additives as an alternative to medication. Mean urinary sodium excretion was reduced 37.0 mmol/24 h in the diet group and 161.0 mmol/24 h in the control group, with average K/Na ratios of 3.9 and 0.50. Both groups had a fall in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but the diet group finished on half of the initial amount of medication, with 1 patient in 3 off medication and 4 out of 5 having either stopped or reduced the dose. The control group remained on almost the full amount of medication, with 2 patients out of 3 having made no reduction. The diet group had a mean weight loss of 2.1 kg, a rise in serum potassium, and a fall in serum bicarbonate. There was no increase in overall frequency of muscle cramp, and the diet group reported feeling happier, less depressed, and less dependent on analgesics. Two-thirds of the diet group intend to continue to diet indefinitely. Reduction of sodium intake permitted drug treatment to be substantially reduced without side-effects or loss of blood-pressure control.