Interplay between Sugar and Salt on Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

Previous experience showed that sucrose ingestion exceeding 50% of total calories consistently increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) in rats, but ingesting 36 or 13% of calories as sucrose did not. In fact, the mean SBP of rats ingesting 36% of calories as sucrose was not different from rats ingesting 13% of calories as sucrose. This was not the case in the present study where the dietary salt content was increased. Adding dietary salt (NaCl) to raise low concentrations of Na (0.14% wt/wt) to higher concentrations (0.80% wt/wt) in diets with 36 and 13% of calories from sucrose significantly elevated SBP in spontaneously hypertensive rats eating both diets, but significantly more in the former. Accordingly, an interplay exists between sugar and salt in SBP regulation, and it is suggested that amounts of sugar characteristically consumed by an average human are capable of increasing BP. Composition of diets, especially with respect to sugar and salt, should be considered when interpreting results from studies on various aspects of hypertension.

Nano-chromium picolinate and heat stress enhance insulin sensitivity in cross-bred sheep

“…Chromium (Cr) is an essential mineral that plays a regulatory role in insulin action and energy metabolism ( Anderson, 1997 , 2008 ). Apart from its metabolic function, insulin is a crucial factor controlling lipid peroxidation; thus, Cr may also exert an antioxidant effect ( Preuss et al., 1997 ). Moreover, Cr supplementation benefits livestock, especially when animals are under nutritional or HS because mobilized Cr from body reserves is excreted irreversibly into the urine in stressed animals ( Chang and Mowat, 1992 ).…”

Excess Catecholamine Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Therapya

“…The still ill‐defined effect of nutrition on blood pressure is exemplified by the observation that an increased salt intake raised blood pressure in rats fed a low sucrose diet which by itself did not affect blood pressure. 50 It was concluded that in westernized societies the high mono/disaccharide intake could elicit a rise in blood pressure when combined with salt. 50 The permissive action of salt can also be deduced from the observation that rats with genetic predisposition and raised sympathetic activity, 51 for example, Dahl salt‐sensitive rats, respond to increased sodium intake with a rise in blood pressure.…”

“…50 It was concluded that in westernized societies the high mono/disaccharide intake could elicit a rise in blood pressure when combined with salt. 50 The permissive action of salt can also be deduced from the observation that rats with genetic predisposition and raised sympathetic activity, 51 for example, Dahl salt‐sensitive rats, respond to increased sodium intake with a rise in blood pressure. 52 The role of ethanol in hypertension is less well understood.…”

The role of chromium supplementation in cardiovascular risk factors: A comprehensive reviews of putative molecular mechanisms

“…Despite above-mentioned reasons, the Chromium functional mechanism involved in blood pressure is not still clear. Although animal studies revealed the possible mechanisms of the effect of Chromium supplementation on blood pressure due to boosting insulin action and its effects on improving lipid profile [ 48 ]. Also it has been shown that Chromium consumption can improve blood pressure in hypertensive subjects which may be related to lower renin-angiotensin system activity, reduced angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, and increased NO system activity [ [49] , [50] , [51] ]; ( Fig.…”