Positive association of serum sodium within the normal reference range of 135-145 mmol/l with cholesterol and blood pressure makes water a drug for prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Authors

• S Gao
• X Cui
• X Wang
• MB Burg
• NI Dmitrieva

Abstract

Objective: Serum sodium concentration is maintained by osmoregulation within normal range of 135-145 mmol/l. Previous analysis of data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study showed association of serum sodium with the 10-year risk scores of coronary heart disease and stroke. Current study evaluated the association of within-normal-range serum sodium with cardiovascular risk factors. Approach and Results: Only participants who did not take cholesterol or blood pressure medications and had sodium within normal 135-145 mmol/l range were included (N=8617), and the cohort was stratified based on race, gender and smoking status. Multiple linear regression analysis of data from ARIC study was performed, with adjustment for age, blood glucose, insulin, glomerular filtration rate, body mass index, waist to hip ratio, and calorie intake. The analysis showed positive associations with sodium of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol ratio, apolipoprotein B, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Increases in lipids and blood pressure associated with 10 mmol/l increase in sodium are similar to the increases associated with 7-10 years of aging. Analysis of sodium measurements made 3 years apart demonstrated that it is stable within 2-3mmol/l explaining its association with long-term health outcomes. Furthermore, elevated sodium promoted lipid accumulation in cultured adipocytes suggesting direct causative effects on lipid metabolism Conclusions: Serum sodium concentration is a cardiovascular risk factor even within the normal reference range. Thus, decreasing sodium to the lower end of the normal range by modification of water and salt intake is a personalizable strategy for decreasing cardiovascular risks.

Scientific Focus Area: Epidemiology

This page was last updated on Friday, March 26, 2021