The influence of sodium intake on cardiovascular endpoints in rhesus monkeys
J.A. Mattison, H. Spurgeon, P. Pullen, E.G. Lakatta, D.K. Ingram, G.R. Roth, M.A. Lane
National Institute on Aging/NIH,
Baltimore, MD
Although there is considerable evidence linking salt intake to hypertension, its role in remodeling of the vascular wall to affect arterial stiffness is still unknown. The effect of an increased salt load on vascular stiffness and modulation of this response by production of endogenous ligands was studied in nine normotensive male rhesus macaques. Serial measurements of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), blood pressure (BP), urine and sodium output were made before and for 27 weeks after increasing dietary sodium from 0.3% to 0.7% of daily intake. All but one monkey responded with an increase in PWV during the first phase of the study. The peak PWV (p = 0.004) and systolic BP (p = 0.012) response were significantly greater than at baseline. Increases in urine volume and sodium excretion were likely mechanisms for dealing with the increased salt load to reduce the effect on PWV and BP and return them to near baseline levels. Additional studies of further increases in sodium load and the role of endogenous ligands are underway to more clearly understand the relationship between increased vascular stiffness and sodium intake.
Key words:
blood pressure, salt, arterial stiffness
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