Association patterns of urinary sodium, potassium, and their ratio with blood pressure across various levels of salt-diet regions in China

Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 30;8(1):6727. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-25097-1.

Abstract

We aim to evaluate the association of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) with estimated urinary sodium (Na) and potassium(K) excretions, and their gram-to-gram Na/K ratio across various salt-diet regions during 2005-2009 in China. A prospective cohort study was conducted to recruit 46,285 participants in China. A single fasting morning urine specimen was collected to estimate 24-hour urinary Na and K excretion using Kawasaki formula. Means of estimated Na and K were 5.7 ± 1.7 and 2.1 ± 0.5 grams/day, respectively, and mean estimated Na/K ratio was 2.8 ± 0.8. Adjusted analyses showed 1.70 mmHg SBP and 0.49 mmHg DBP increase per 1-g increment of estimated Na, while 1.10 mmHg SBP and 0.91 mmHg DBP decrease for one-gram increase of K. A significant increase in SBP (4.33 mmHg) and DBP (1.54 mmHg) per 1 unit increase in Na/K ratio was observed. More changes of SBP (4.39 mmHg) and DBP (1.67 mmHg) per one-unit increase of Na/K ratio were observed in low-salt regions, though significant changes were also found in moderate- and heavy-salt regions (P for heterogeneity < 0.01). Conclusively, decreasing sodium combined with increasing potassium is likely to have a more beneficial effect than decreasing sodium alone, even if those were living in low-salt regions.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure Determination
  • China / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / diet therapy*
  • Hypertension / pathology
  • Hypertension / urine
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Potassium / administration & dosage
  • Potassium / urine*
  • Sodium / administration & dosage
  • Sodium / urine*
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary
  • Sodium
  • Potassium