Utilization of swine to study the risk factor of an elevated salt diet on blood pressure.

Two homogeneous groups of castrated swine were fed identical diets except that one contained an increased sodium chloride content. The diets were initiated at weaning age and the blood pressure of the pig was followed for 8 months. Blood pressures were measured with an automatic blood pressure recorder for a 1-week period every 4th week. At the end of 8 months, the group on the high salt diet had blood pressure elevated above that of the group on the low salt diet.