Geleijnse JM, Hofman A, Witteman JCM, Hazebroek AAJM, Valkenburg JA, Grobbee DE
Long-term effecs of neonatal sodium restriction on blood pressure
16th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension
ISH Abstract Book (Jun) 16: 1996

Whether contrasting levels of sodium intake in infancy are associated with blood pressure differences in adolescence is a question of obvious importance which has been scarcely investigated. In 1980, a randomised trial was conducted among 476 Dutch newborn infants to study the effect of a low sodium or normal sodium diet on blood pressure during the first six months of life. At the end of the trial, systolic blood pressure in the low sodium group (n = 231) was 2.1 mmHg lower than in the controls (n = 245).

For the present analysis, blood pressure was remeasured in 167 children from the original cohort (35%) after 15 years of follow-up. Differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure level between the diet groups were assessed using multivariate regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders. Adjusted systolic blood pressure at follow-up was 3.6 mmHg lower (95% CI 0.5 to 6.6 mmHg), and diastolic pressure was 2.2 mmHg lower (95% CI -0.2 to 4.5 mmHg) in children who had been assigned to the low sodium group (n = 71) compared to the controls (n = 96).

Comment: Sodium intake in infancy may be important in relation to future blood pressure. The appreciation of determinants of blood pressure early in life could provide clues for the prevention of hypertension (Carmine Zoccali, M.D, Reggio Calabria, Italy).

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16th Scientific Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension
H: Pathophysiology : Salt (sodium, chloride) sensitivity