[Relationship of sodium intake and arterial hypertension. Contribution of geographical epidemiology (author's transl)].

1. In 28 populations over the world, are available both mean daily sodium intake and trend of the means of blood pressure in adulthood (in order to compute the slope of linear regression of pressure over age). In both sexes, the sodium intake is very significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic slopes, with systolic and diastolic pressures at age 50, and with systolic pressure at age 20. 2. In limited geographic areas, hypertension appears to be always more prevalent in the communities having the larger sodium intake. 3. Low salt intake communities are always primitive. The positive trend of blood pressure with larger salt intake might be also attributed to acculturation process, body weight increase, and diminution of potassium intake. 4. The data now available lead to advise, as soon as possible in life, a prevention of hypertension based upon reduction of sodium intake and increase of vegetable potassium intake.