Blood pressure responses of mild hypertensive caucasian males to a metabolic diet with moderate sodium and two levels of dietary calcium

This study compared blood pressure (BP) responses of hypertensive males to two moderate (3300mg/d) sodium (Na) metabolic diets differing in calcium (Ca). Ten mild hypertensive Caucasian males were fed a 6-week high Ca diet (1400mg/d Ca) and 5 hypertensive males were fed a low Ca diet (400mg/d Ca). BP was measured twice/week and serum and urine were analyzed for Ca, Na, magnesium (Ms), potassium (K), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1,25(OH)₂ vitamin D, red cell Mg, and plasma renin activity (PRA). Systolic and diastolic BP decreased (9% and 8%, respectively) in the high Ca group (p<0.04). In the high Ca group, 8 of 10 had systolic BP <140 mmHg and 4 of 10 had diastolic BP <90 mmHg by the study's end. The high Ca group showed a nonsignificant (NS) 13-22% increase in urinary Na and a NS 11-16% increase in urinary Ca. This high Ca, moderate Na diet significantly decreased BP in mild hypertensive males vs. a low Ca, moderate Na diet.