High Sucrose Diets Increase Blood Pressure of Both Salt-Sensitive and Salt-Resistant Rats

We examined the effects of a diet relatively high in sugar and low in protein content on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in rats with known pressure responses to salt (NaCl) in order to compare "sugar/ protein sensitivity" to "salt sensitivity." Dahl saltsensitive (DSS) and salt-resistant (DSR) rats were fed one of two low salt diets containing either high sugar (sucrose 51.5% w/w)/low protein (14.6% w/w) or low sugar (sucrose 12.5% w/w)/high protein (52.2% w/w) content. After 3 weeks, the DSS ingesting the high sugar diet/low protein diet developed significantly elevated SBP relative to DSR eating the same high sugar/low protein diet and the DSS and DSR consuming the low sugar/high protein diet. After 2 to 3 months, the SBP of DSR eating the high sugar diet began to rise markedly and eventually both DSS and DSR ingesting the high sugar/low protein diet maintained similarly elevated SBP, significantly higher than DSS and DSR ingesting the low sugar/high protein diet. When Fischer 344 rats, a normotensive, salt-resistant rat strain, were fed the high sucrose/low protein diet, SBP also rose significantly into hypertensive ranges over 2 to 3 months. Since the SBP of DSR and Fischer 344 rats are not influenced to any great extent by high salt intake, even after prolonged exposure, the SBP rise associated with the high sugar/low protein diet may be via a mechanism different from salt-induced hypertension. However, it is also possible that the high sugar/low protein diet creates in DSS and DSR the situation responsible for salt induction in DSS. Considering various explanations, we could not attribute elevated SBP to excess caloric intake or obvious renal damage. Urinary volume was consistently lower in both DSS and DSR ingesting high sugar loads, and higher circulating insulin concentrations were eventually present in DSS and DSR consuming the high sugar diet. The latter was found only after a significant elevation of SBP in DSS consuming high sugar/low protein had taken place. Accordingly, the rise in SBP secondary to high sugar intake may be due, at least in part, to renal perturbations influencing volume homeostasis and/or insulin metabolism. Am J Hypertens 1992;5:585–591