Abstract 136: Improvement of BP Control (and Simultaneous Reduction of Drug Consumption) in Treated Hypertensive Patients Compliant to a Minimal Dietary Sodium Restriction

Abstract

The official guidelines for hypertension recommend a low sodium diet as a basic approach. Sodium should be restricted to 100 mEq a day. Such tight diets are seldom paralleled by an adequate compliance. Methods: we studied the effects of a reasonable and realistic low sodium diet on the BP values in 196 pts. (157 pts. completed the study). The patients had to avoid ice creams, cheese and salt-preserved (cured) meat. They were switched from regular to salt-free bread. Otherwise they were free to follow their usual mediterranean diet. Urinary output of Na and K, weight, number of antihypertensive drugs taken, and office BP/HR were measured before diet started (Value 1 in the table) and after 9±1 weeks on diet (Value 2 in the table) (all values are mean ± SD). The BP was recorded with the patient alone, in a seated position, with automatic repeated measures, by means of Omron 907 HEM monitors. At the end of the study 88 patients showed a reduction in the urinary sodium (compliant pts.), whereas 69 did not (noncompliant pts.). In those compliant to the low salt approach (88 out of 157 pts. i.e. 56%), a substantial improvement was attained in terms of BP control and body weight with a simultaneous significant reduction in the daily drug requirement. The responders increased from 47 to 69 (i.e. from 53% to 78%). In the noncompliant group the BP values, the responder rate (35 to 32, i.e. 50% to 46%), the weight, and the drug consumption were stable. Conclusion: even a limited dietary salt reduction may be beneficial in terms of BP control, with a decrease of the BP levels and an increase in the responder rate, paralleled by a reduction of the drug requirement. Take home message: even a bit of diet is better than no diet.