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Adverse Neurogenic Actions of Dietary Salt

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Blood Pressure
Interventions
Other: Low Sodium Diet
Other: Medium Sodium Diet
Other: High Sodium Diet
Registration Number
NCT02881515
Lead Sponsor
University of Delaware
Brief Summary

Excess dietary salt increases the risk for cardiovascular events, even in people that are not hypertensive. There is some evidence that excess dietary salt exaggerates blood pressure and sympathetic nervous system responses to various perturbations and increases blood pressure variability. This proposal will examine the effects of low, medium, and high salt diets on cardiovascular reactivity and blood pressure variability.

Detailed Description

Excess dietary salt causes target organ damage and increases the risk for adverse cardiovascular (CV) events independent of blood pressure (BP). Recent data in salt-resistant, normotensive rodents suggest that high dietary salt enhances the excitability or gain of sympathetic circuits, exaggerates sympathetic and CV responses to various stimuli, and increases BP variability (BPV). There are limited data regarding the impact of dietary salt intake on sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) and CV function in salt-resistant humans as well as the underlying mechanisms contributing to these adverse effects. The long-term goal is to determine how dietary salt adversely affects BP regulation and CV health. The objective of this proposal is to comprehensively evaluate the impact of dietary salt intake on SNA and CV reactivity and BPV in normotensive humans. The investigators have 2 specific aims: 1) Aim 1 will test the hypothesis that high dietary salt increases SNA and CV reactivity in normotensive adults, 2) Aim 2 will test the hypothesis that high dietary salt increases BPV in normotensive adults. The expected outcome is to demonstrate that dietary salt loading increases CV reactivity and BPV through a sympathetic nervous system mechanism that originates in the brain. The proposed research is significant, as these studies will provide empirical evidence that dietary salt intake impacts neurohumoral control of the circulation in salt-resistant humans. The proposed research is innovative because it will identify a novel neurogenic action of dietary salt in human CV regulation.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
77
Inclusion Criteria
  • normal blood pressure
  • men, Women, minorities
  • ECG within normal limits
  • screening blood panel within normal limits
Exclusion Criteria
  • high blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg)
  • history of cardiovascular disease
  • history of cancer
  • history of diabetes
  • history of kidney disease
  • obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2)
  • smoking or tobacco use
  • current pregnancy
  • nursing mothers
  • communication barriers

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Blood Pressure ReactivityLow Sodium DietBlood Pressure Responses to a cold pressor test and acute exercise will be assessed. This will be performed while subjects are on a low sodium diet (1000 mg/daily), medium sodium diet (2300 mg/daily), and high sodium diet (7000 mg/daily).
Blood Pressure ReactivityMedium Sodium DietBlood Pressure Responses to a cold pressor test and acute exercise will be assessed. This will be performed while subjects are on a low sodium diet (1000 mg/daily), medium sodium diet (2300 mg/daily), and high sodium diet (7000 mg/daily).
Blood Pressure VariabilityHigh Sodium DietTwenty four hour blood pressure variability will be assessed. This will be performed while subjects are on a low sodium diet (1000 mg/daily), medium sodium diet (2300 mg/daily), and high sodium diet (7000 mg/daily).
Blood Pressure VariabilityMedium Sodium DietTwenty four hour blood pressure variability will be assessed. This will be performed while subjects are on a low sodium diet (1000 mg/daily), medium sodium diet (2300 mg/daily), and high sodium diet (7000 mg/daily).
Blood Pressure ReactivityHigh Sodium DietBlood Pressure Responses to a cold pressor test and acute exercise will be assessed. This will be performed while subjects are on a low sodium diet (1000 mg/daily), medium sodium diet (2300 mg/daily), and high sodium diet (7000 mg/daily).
Blood Pressure VariabilityLow Sodium DietTwenty four hour blood pressure variability will be assessed. This will be performed while subjects are on a low sodium diet (1000 mg/daily), medium sodium diet (2300 mg/daily), and high sodium diet (7000 mg/daily).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Blood Pressure VariabilityDay 10 of diet (i.e., after 10 days of low, medium, and high sodium diets; crossover design)

Standard deviation of systolic blood pressure over 24 hours (mmHg)

Blood Pressure Reactivity - Handgrip exerciseDay 10 of diet (i.e., after 10 days of low, medium, and high sodium diets; crossover design)

Change in Blood pressure during handgrip exercise (mmHg)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Blood Pressure Reactivity - Cold Pressor testDay 10 of diet (i.e., after 10 days of low, medium, and high sodium diets; crossover design)

Change in Blood pressure during a cold pressor test (mmHg)

Sympathetic Responses - Handgrip exerciseDay 10 of diet (i.e., after 10 days of low, medium, and high sodium diets; crossover design)

Sympathetic outflow (bursts per minute)

Sympathetic Responses - Cold Pressor testDay 10 of diet (i.e., after 10 days of low, medium, and high sodium diets; crossover design)

Sympathetic outflow (bursts per minute)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Delaware

🇺🇸

Newark, Delaware, United States

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