Weight reduction and salt restriction in hypertension: effects on blood pressure and intracellular electrolytes.

In 16 essential hypertensives on a program of energy restriction (800 kcal/day) with and without simultaneous salt restriction, the effects on blood pressure and intracellular Na+ and Ca2+ in red blood cells were studied. A decrease in blood pressure and intracellular free Na+ and Ca2+ was only observed in the cases of simultaneous energy and salt restriction. The beneficial effect of weight reduction in hypertension thus depends on a diminished salt intake and is probably mediated by changes in intracellular free Ca2+.