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NCT Number: NCT03565653

The Effects of Dietary Salt on Post-exercise Hypotension

The new American Heart Association (AHA) blood pressure guidelines are expected to raise the prevalence of high blood pressure to ~46% in the United States. One recommendation for lowering blood pressure is aerobic exercise, which produces a period of lowered blood pressure (post-exercise hypotension; PEH) that lasts up to 24 hours. It is believed that PEH may be responsible for the observations of lowered blood pressure following initiation of exercise. However, most Americans eat too much salt, which expands plasma volume and may prevent PEH, rending aerobic exercise ineffective in improving blood pressure status.

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Key information

Conditions

Blood Pressure Autonomic Nervous System Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Hypotension Nervous System Diseases Orthostatic Intolerance Post-Exercise Hypotension Primary Dysautonomias Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware, 19713, United States

About this study

Recently released blood pressure guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology are expected to raise the prevalence of hypertension in America from ~33% to ~46%. A single bout of aerobic exercise produces a prolonged period (up to 24 hours) of lowered blood pressure (post-exercise hypotension; PEH). Repeated bouts of aerobic exercise results in maintenance of lowered blood pressure, leading to recommendations of aerobic exercise for improvement of blood pressure status. However, more than 90% of Americans consume more sodium in their diets than is recommended. This is alarming, as excess dietary sodium intake expands plasma fluid volume, which may in turn attenuate the reduction in BP following exercise. Therefore, the objective of this project is to determine the effects of high dietary sodium intake on PEH. The investigators hypothesize that, compared to a recommended sodium diet, a high salt diet will attenuate post-exercise hypotension.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Recreationally active

Exclusion criteria

  • high blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg)
  • history of cardiovascular disease
  • history of cancer
  • history of diabetes
  • history of kidney disease
  • obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2)
  • smoking or tobacco use
  • current pregnancy
  • nursing mothers
  • communication barriers

Treatment and study plan

High dietary salt

Other

~4,000 mg Na+/day

Placebo

Other

dextrose

Primary outcomes

  1. Post-exercise hypotension

    Time frame: 24 hours following exercise

    Change in mean arterial pressure from pre- to post-exercise

Secondary outcomes

  1. Blood pressure reactivity

    Time frame: 10th day of high salt diet

    Change in mean, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure from baseline to exercise

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Delaware

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
Jun 21, 2018
Registry last updated
Oct 1, 2019

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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