This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wilson, D. K. Articles by Sica, D. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wilson, D. K. Articles by Sica, D. A.

(Hypertension. 1996;28:250-255.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.

Articles

Variability in Salt Sensitivity Classifications in Black Male Versus Female Adolescents

Dawn K. Wilson; Laura Bayer; Domenic A. Sica

the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Hypertension, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.

Salt sensitivity (changes in blood pressure in response to alterations in salt intake) may be a risk factor for hypertension. In the present study, we examined the prevalence of salt sensitivity based on two different classifications in healthy black male and female adolescents (aged 13 to 16 years). A total of 135 black adolescents participated in a 50 mmol/24 h low sodium diet for 5 days and a 150 mmol/24 h NaCl supplement for 10 days. Dietary compliance was defined as sodium excretion less than or equal to 50 mmol/24 h for the low sodium diet and greater than or equal to 165 mmol/24 h for the high NaCl supplement. Salt sensitivity was defined by two classifications: (1) as a decrease in mean blood pressure greater than or equal to 5 mm Hg from baseline to the low sodium diet, and (2) as an increase in mean blood pressure greater than or equal to 5 mm Hg from the low sodium diet to the high NaCl supplement. With classification 1, 14% of boys were identified as salt sensitive compared with 22% of girls. With classification 2, however, 31% of boys were identified as salt sensitive compared with 18% of girls. Analyses based on changes in systolic pressure demonstrated similar findings across sex, although overall classifications based on systolic pressure yielded a greater percentage of salt-sensitive subjects. These sex differences in classification patterns were not due to differences in other important variables, such as changes in sodium excretion, potassium excretion, or Quetelet index. These results suggest that the prevalence of salt sensitivity differs by sex depending on the type of protocol used for the classification of salt sensitivity in a black pediatric population.

Key Words: sodium • sex • blacks • adolescents

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. A. Ortiz and J. L. Garvin Intrarenal Transport and Vasoactive Substances in Hypertension Hypertension, September 1, 2001; 38(3): 621 - 624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. K. Wilson, D. A. Sica, and S. B. Miller Effects of Potassium on Blood Pressure in Salt-Sensitive and Salt-Resistant Black Adolescents Hypertension, August 1, 1999; 34(2): 181 - 186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]