Salt sensitivity, blood pressure and heart disease risk
What it found
In 528 people in China, a high-salt diet changed 467 of 713 blood metabolites, and 41 of these were linked to how much blood pressure rose with salt.
The authors say these metabolite changes may stiffen arteries and raise heart disease risk by raising blood pressure.
What they found
Studies in people
Metabolites changed by salt
Of 713 metabolites measured, 467 changed significantly after the high-salt period.
Salt sensitivity linked metabolites
Changes in 30 metabolites from low to high salt differed between salt-sensitive groups. Baseline levels of 11 other metabolites were related to salt sensitivity. Together these 41 metabolites explained 23% of the variance in salt sensitivity.
Arterial stiffness
Salt sensitivity and its metabolite pattern were positively correlated with arterial stiffness.
Cause of blood pressure rise
Genetic analyses suggested the salt-related metabolites may affect heart disease risk by altering blood pressure. The rise in blood pressure appeared to follow the metabolite changes, not cause them.
What the authors conclude
“Our study revealed that the metabolomics signature of SS individuals differs from that of SR individuals and that the changes in SS-related metabolites may increase arterial stiffness and foster CVDs.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the metabolite pattern of salt-sensitive people differs from that of salt-resistant people.
- They conclude that changes in salt-related metabolites may increase arterial stiffness and foster cardiovascular disease.
- They say the study provides insight into the biology and targets of salt sensitivity and its role in cardiovascular disease.
How it was done
People whose blood pressure rises a lot with salt have a higher risk of heart and blood vessel disease, but it was not clear whether salt sensitivity raises that risk by changing metabolism.
528 participants at four centres in China had 3 days of baseline checks, 10 days on a low-salt diet, then 10 days on a high-salt diet. Blood metabolites, lipids and blood pressure were measured at each stage, and participants were grouped by how much their blood pressure responded to salt.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This was a short dietary trial, so it cannot show what happens over years of usual eating.
- The genetic analyses suggest a direction for the pathway but cannot prove cause and effect in every person.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Fuwai Hospital, China; Southern University of Science and Technology, China
The paper
- Title
- Metabolomics signature of blood pressure salt sensitivity and its link to cardiovascular disease: A dietary salt-intervention trial
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Lin Z, Li J, Liu F, et al (2024). Metabolomics signature of blood pressure salt sensitivity and its link to cardiovascular disease: A dietary salt-intervention trial. Science China. Life sciences. doi:10.1007/s11427-023-2507-9PubMed 38739172DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error