Hypertension and the effect of dietary salt on inflammation: An interventional study

Abstract ObjectiveHypertension and dietary salt are associated with inflammation in murine models. Studies in humans are scare and yet critical for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. This was an interventional study of 85 participants. Participants were instructed to follow a one week of low (4 g/day)- and high (9 g/day)-salt diet. BioLegend’s LEGENDplex™ bead-based immunoassay (USA) was used to quantify cytokine levels in plasma. Mann-Whitney, logistic regression and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test were used to compare inflammation markers on low- and high-salt diets. The goal of this study was to determine the association between hypertension and inflammation and the effect of high dietary salt intake on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in HIV positive and HIV negative individuals.Results43 participants among the 85 were hypertensive with equal sex distribution. Hypertensives had higher plasma levels of IL-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte count and fasting blood glucose. High salt intake was associated with higher IL-2 in hypertensive persons with HIV and lower IL-21 plasma levels in the HIV-negative. These findings suggest that there is an association between hypertension, salt and inflammation. Hypertension is associated with inflammation, and dietary salt intake may play a role in modulating inflammation.RegistrationPan African Clinical Trial Registry (www.pactr.org) PACTR202007493610166. Retrospectively registered.