How does dietary sodium affect cardiovascular health beyond its influence on blood pressure? In this lively podcast, Associate Editor Nisha Charkoudian (U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine) interviews lead author David G. Edwards (University of Delaware) and R. Matthew Brothers (University of Texas at Arlington) about the innovative study by Ramick et al examining the mechanisms by which high dietary sodium may impair vascular function. The authors used 24-hour blood pressure monitoring to identify blood pressure-independent effects of a high salt diet for salt-resistant individuals, compared to salt-sensitive individuals. Using a 7-day randomized high and low salt diet protocol, as well as intradermal microdialysis, the authors built on previous work to investigate specific mechanisms of oxidative stress in the microvasculature with a high-salt diet. Was the source of reactive oxygen species superoxide? From a public health perspective, does this study suggest that we need to shift focus from sodium and blood pressure, to sodium and overall cardiovascular health? Listen and find out.

 

Meghan G. Ramick, Michael S. Brian, Evan L. Matthews, Jordan C. Patik, Douglas R. Seals, Shannon L. Lennon, William B. Farquhar, and David G. Edwards Apocynin and Tempol Ameliorate Dietary Sodium-Induced Declines in Cutaneous Microvascular Function in Salt Resistant Humans Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published May 10, 2019. DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00786.2018