Salt and hypertension: data from the ‘Heidelberg Study’

Prevalence of hypertension and “intake” of sodium chloride (as estimated from 24-hr urinary Na-excretion) were measured in a random sample (n = 800) of 20- to 40-year-old Heidelberg men. There was a high (14%) prevalence of hypertension and a high (mean = 11.32 g) NaCl intake; both showed, however, no correlation. The lack of a NaCl/blood pressure correlation in this cross-sectional study might be due to intra- and interindividual variability of both parameters and, possibly, to a “threshold” argument concerning the etiological role of sodium in hypertension.