Blood Pressure Responses of White Men With Hypertension to Two Low-Sodium Metabolic Diets With Different Levels of Dietary Calcium

Objective To compare the blood pressure responses of men with hypertension consuming low-sodium (Na) metabolic diets differing in dietary calcium (Ca) for two 6-week periods. Subjects White men who had hypertension, were nonsmokers, and were sedentary. Intervention This study consisted of two separate 6-week metabolic feeding periods. In the first period, a high-Ca group (n=6) was fed 1,400 mg Ca per day. In the second period, a low-Ca group (n=5) was fed 400 mg Ca per day. Both groups were fed 1,500 mg Na per day. Main outcome measures Blood pressure; urine and blood measured for electrolyte, calcitriol, renin, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. To measure typical nutrient intakes, 3-day dietary records were collected before the beginning of each treatment period. Statistical analyses performed Repeated-measures analysis of variance and split-plot analysis of variance were used to analyze, respectively, blood pressure responses and response variables over time. Results In both groups, serum Na level decreased ( P