High-sodium diet does not worsen endothelial function in female patients with postural tachycardia syndrome.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the effects of a high-sodium diet on endothelial function in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS).
Results Summary
The study found that a high-sodium diet for 6 days did not negatively affect endothelial function in POTS patients or healthy controls, with no significant differences in flow-mediated dilation, leg blood flow, or reactive hyperemic index between groups.
Population
14 female POTS patients and 13 age-matched healthy female controls.
Effective Dosage
Low-sodium diet (10 mEq/day) and high-sodium diet (300 mEq/day).
Duration
6 days per diet in a crossover design.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-sodium (LS) diet (10 mEq/day) | no change | FMD% | patients with POTS and healthy controls | - | did not differ | #1 |
low-sodium (LS) diet (10 mEq/day) | decrease | peak brachial artery diameter | patients with POTS | - | was lower | #2 |
low-sodium (LS) diet (10 mEq/day) | increase | RHI | patients with POTS | - | was higher | #3 |
low-sodium (LS) diet (10 mEq/day) | no change | post-ischemic LBF increase | patients with POTS and healthy controls | - | no differences | #4 |
high-sodium (HS) diet (300 mEq/day) | no change | FMD% | patients with POTS and healthy controls | - | no between-group differences | #5 |
high-sodium (HS) diet (300 mEq/day) | no change | LBF increase | patients with POTS and healthy controls | - | no between-group differences | #6 |
high-sodium (HS) diet (300 mEq/day) | no change | RHI | patients with POTS and healthy controls | - | no between-group differences | #7 |
high-sodium (HS) diet (300 mEq/day) | no change | endothelial dysfunction | patients with POTS | - | did not induce | #8 |
high-sodium (HS) diet | no change | endothelial function | patients with POTS | - | does not negatively affect | #9 |
PURPOSE: Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a syndrome characterized by orthostatic symptoms and a heart rate increase of at least 30 beats per minute in the absence of hypotension upon standing, is often accompanied by increased sympathetic activity and low blood volume. A common non-pharmacologic recommendation for patients with POTS is a high-sodium (HS) diet with the goal of bolstering circulating blood volume. The objective of this study is to assess the effects of 6 days of a HS diet on endothelial function in POTS. METHODS: A total of 14 patients with POTS and 13 age-matched healthy controls, all females, were studied following 6 days on a low-sodium (LS) diet (10 mEq/day) and 6 days on a HS diet (300 mEq/day) in a crossover design. We measured endothelial function following reactive hyperemia in the brachial artery using flow-mediated dilation (FMD), leg blood flow (LBF) using strain gauge plethysmography in the calf, and reactive hyperemic index (RHI) in the microcirculation of the hand using pulsatile arterial tonometry. RESULTS: On the LS diet, FMD% did not differ between patients with POTS and the healthy controls although peak brachial artery diameter was lower for the patient group. RHI was higher for the patient group than for the controls, but there were no differences in post-ischemic LBF increase. On the HS diet, there were no between-group differences in FMD%, LBF increase, or RHI. CONCLUSION: In summary, a HS diet for 6 days did not induce endothelial dysfunction. This non-pharmacologic treatment used for patients with POTS does not negatively affect endothelial function when used for a sub-acute duration. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01550315; March 9, 2012.