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BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Hypertension | Research article

The hypotensive effect of salt substitutes in stage 2 hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: Sadegh Jafarnejad, Hamed Mirzaei, Cain C. T. Clark, Mohsen Taghizadeh, Armin Ebrahimzadeh

Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Hypertension (HTN) is a ubiquitous risk factor for numerous non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease and stroke. There are currently no wholly effective pharmacological therapies for subjects with HTN. However, salt substitutes have emerged as a potential therapy for the treatment of HTN. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of salt substitutes on reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP), following a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Methods

Studies were found via systematic searches of the Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Ovid, Google Scholar and Cochrane library. Ten studies, comprised of 11 trials and 1119 participants, were included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Pooled weighted mean differences showed significant reductions of SBP (WMD − 8.87 mmHg; 95% CI − 11.19, − 6.55, p < 0.001) and DBP (WMD − 4.04 mmHg; 95% CI − 5.70, − 2.39) with no statistically significant heterogeneity between the 11 included comparisons of SBPs and DBPs. The stratified analysis of trials based on the mean age of participants showed a significant reduction in the mean difference of SBP in both adults (< 65 years old) and elderly (≥65 years old). However, the DBP-lowering effect of salt substitutes was only observed in adult patients (WMD − 4.22 mmHg; 95% CI − 7.85, − 0.58), but not in the elderly subjects.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that salt-substitution strategies could be used for lowering SBP and DBP in patients with stage 2 HTN; providing a nutritional platform for the treatment, amelioration, and prevention of HTN.
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Metadata
Title
The hypotensive effect of salt substitutes in stage 2 hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors
Sadegh Jafarnejad
Hamed Mirzaei
Cain C. T. Clark
Mohsen Taghizadeh
Armin Ebrahimzadeh
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2261
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-020-01347-x

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