Search Results (193)

Hypertension remains a major driver of multi-organ damage, including cardiac remodeling and hepatic complications. The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) has emerged as a potential metabolic signaling molecule with anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated whether BHB attenuates cardiac stress and hepatic injury in a salt-sensitive hypertensive model. Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats were fed a high-salt (HS) diet combined with a choline-deficient diet to induce cardiac inflammation and hepatic fibrosis. Rats received either BHB or a control vehicle. We found that BHB significantly suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation and fibrotic markers, including TGF-β and collagen III mRNA, even under severe dietary stress. In the heart, BHB attenuated the expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α and ANP) despite the persistence of high systolic blood pressure. These results demonstrate that BHB exerts direct organ-protective effects through anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic actions that are independent of robust blood pressure reduction. Our findings suggest that BHB could be a promising metabolic intervention for managing multi-organ complications in hypertensive patients with metabolic comorbidities. Full article

Background: Hypertension is being increasingly observed among young adults in urban India, alongside rapid dietary transitions and rising consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The current study aimed to assess the frequency and patterns of UPF consumption and examine their association with high blood pressure among urban college students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 311 undergraduate students aged 18–24 years from three colleges in Hyderabad, India. Our study used a validated automated device to measure blood pressure. Dietary intake over the previous month was assessed using a 24-item food frequency questionnaire capturing commonly consumed UPFs. After adjusting for age, sex, and socioeconomic variables, multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the relationships between UPF consumption categories and high blood pressure. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals (CIs) for adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were reported. Results: Overall, 12.5% of participants had high BP (≥140/90 mmHg). The prevalence was higher among males and those aged >20 years. In the adjusted analyses, males had significantly higher odds of having high BP (AOR: 4.96; 95% CI: 1.64–15.01), as did students from higher-income households (AOR: 3.22; 95% CI: 1.07–9.66). Consumption of high-fat and/or high-salt UPFs at or above the median was independently associated with high BP (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.16–6.99). Taste, availability, and low cost were common drivers of UPF intake. Conclusions: Higher consumption of high-fat and/or high-salt ultra-processed foods was associated with higher odds of elevated blood pressure among urban young adults. These findings warrant further longitudinal investigation and may help inform the development of targeted dietary awareness and food environment interventions in college settings. Full article

Dietary sodium excess is a primary driver of hypertension, yet individuals differ markedly in their blood pressure response to salt. This variation, termed salt sensitivity, cannot currently be predicted from clinical variables alone. This review examines three aspects of salt-gut physiology: intestinal sodium handling, salt-induced changes in gut microbiome composition, and microbiota-mediated effects on immune function, metabolite production, and gut barrier integrity. The intestine absorbs dietary sodium through regulated transporters whose activity adapts to luminal and hormonal conditions, making the gut a key regulator of sodium balance. High salt intake consistently alters gut microbiota composition in animal models, most reproducibly depleting Lactobacillus species, with variable effects on overall diversity. These compositional shifts, supported by human data, activate intestinal Th17 cells and deplete short-chain fatty acid producers, contributing to systemic inflammation and elevated blood pressure. The presence of inducible osmoadaptation responses varies substantially across microbes, though activation under dietary sodium conditions has not been demonstrated in vivo. If salt-driven microbial changes contribute causally to hypertension, microbiota-targeted interventions could complement sodium restriction in patients for whom long-term dietary adherence is poor. Controlled sodium intervention studies in animals and humans are needed to establish whether such a causal contribution exists. Full article

Background/Objectives: Dietary adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) pattern is associated with lower blood pressure; however, most prior studies have relied on office-based measurements and non-specific dietary assessment tools. This study examined the association between DASH diet quality, assessed by the validated DASH-Q questionnaire, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in treatment-naive adults referred for diagnostic ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 227 consecutive treatment-naive adults referred for diagnostic 24-h ABPM at a cardiology outpatient clinic. DASH diet quality was assessed using the validated Turkish version of the DASH-Q questionnaire and categorized as low (<36), moderate (36–49), or high (≥50). Hypertension was defined by ABPM-based thresholds. Multivariable linear regression was performed to identify independent predictors of 24-h mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and binary logistic regression was used to evaluate independent predictors of ABPM-defined hypertension, with both models adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking, physical activity, and self-reported discretionary salt-adding behavior. Results: DASH-Q total score was the sole statistically significant independent predictor of both 24-h mean systolic blood pressure (B = −1.068, 95% CI: −1.270 to −0.866; β = −0.589; p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (B = −0.560, 95% CI: −0.706 to −0.414; β = −0.470; p < 0.001) in the adjusted models. Each one-unit higher DASH-Q score was also associated with 14.6% lower odds of ABPM-defined hypertension (OR = 0.854, 95% CI: 0.820–0.890; p < 0.001). Higher DASH-Q scores were further associated with a more favorable metabolic profile, including lower LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, and C-reactive protein levels. Conclusions: DASH diet quality was independently and inversely associated with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure and the odds of ABPM-defined hypertension in this treatment-naive population. Given the cross-sectional design and the possibility of reverse causality, these results should be interpreted as hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in prospective studies. Full article

Salt is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and transmission of nerve impulses. However, excessive salt intake (especially NaCl) causes hypertension and neoplasms and is associated with neoplasms, including esophageal and gastric cancer. High concentrations of NaCl enhances intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, especially that of superoxide anions (O₂⁻), and induces injury to rat gastric mucosal cells (RGM1). In contrast, cells overexpressing manganese superoxide dismutase exhibit attenuated NaCl-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, antioxidants can reduce the risk of salt-induced gastric mucosal injury. NaCl also affects the remodeling of the cytoskeleton and lamellipodia, and potentially modulates the cellular elastic modulus. In this study, we aimed to determine the possibility of cellular physiological changes by NaCl treatment and the effect of antioxidant laminaran in attenuating NaCl-derived cytotoxicity. Our in vitro assay revealed that laminaran attenuated NaCl-induced cytotoxicity and reduced intracellular ROS production caused by NaCl exposure. Laminaran upregulated antioxidant enzyme expression, suggesting that the observed reduction in ROS was mediated, at least in part, by the activation of these enzymes. Moreover, apoptosis derived from NaCl was inhibited by laminaran. NaCl also induced changes in lamellipodia formation; however, laminaran suppressed this formation. Full article

Background: Migration from low- and middle-income to high-income settings is often accompanied by dietary and lifestyle changes that may increase long-term risk of non-communicable diseases. African migrants represent a growing but under-studied population in Australia, with limited evidence on post-migration nutrition transitions and associated chronic disease risk. This study examined changes in diet and lifestyle among Nigerian-born adults before and after migration to Australia and explored any association with chronic diseases. Methods: A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted among adults who migrated from Nigeria to New South Wales, Australia, between 1992 and 2019. Data were collected via a culturally adapted, self-administered online questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, dietary intake, lifestyle behaviours, and self-reported chronic conditions in the 12 months immediately before and after migration. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and proportions) and inferential analyses (Chi-square tests, McNemar test, and the Bowker test) were used to compare pre- and post-migration behaviours and examine associations with chronic disease outcomes. Results: Ninety-three participants completed the survey (mean age 37.0 ± 7.2 years; 50.5% male). Post-migration, regular breakfast consumption declined (−24.3%), while irregular eating (low and moderate) patterns increased (+7.6% and +16.7%). Regular vegetable intake improved (+5.4%), whereas fruit intake remained low (13.0%). Regular consumption of Nigerian local foods decreased markedly (−53.7%), while regular intake of meat (+18.5%), dairy foods, fats (+14.3%), and non-alcoholic beverages increased (+22.8%). Salt use shifted away from the highest-risk category (−22.2%), and smoking and alcohol consumption remained low and stable. Self-reported chronic conditions were uncommon; hypertension (6.5%) and obesity (5.4%) were the most frequently reported. Conclusions: Nigerian migrants in Australia experience substantial post-migration dietary and lifestyle transitions that may elevate long-term chronic disease risk despite a currently low reported disease burden. Early, culturally responsive nutrition and lifestyle interventions are needed to support healthy adaptation and prevent the progression of cardiometabolic conditions in this growing migrant population. Full article

Background/Objectives: Previous research demonstrates higher sodium retention with increasing levels of dietary salt in some populations. Our objective was to determine whole-body sodium retention and sodium distribution on high and low salt diets using rodent models. Methods: Whole body retention of orally dosed Na-22, a gamma emitter, was measured in female growing and adult Sprague-Dawley rats on high (3.1% by wt. of diet) and low salt (0.13% by wt. of diet) diets. In a second study, whole-body sodium retention was compared between destructive inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) in adult male and female C57BL/6 mice. Results: Whole body retention of Na-22 was not different due to the age of rats on a high salt diet, but rats fed the high salt diet excreted Na-22 much more rapidly than rats fed a low salt diet. In mice, neither sodium retention nor tissue distribution was affected by dietary salt. Bland–Altman analysis indicated overall agreement between NAA and ICP-OES measurements, with observed systematic positive bias. Conclusions: Dietary salt had little effect on retention in normotensive rodents and should be studied in hypertensive models. Full article

Hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are closely linked conditions and represent common global health problems. Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the main cause of mortality in CKD. Endothelial injury underlies the etiopathogenesis of both hypertension and CKD. The endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) is a dynamic, negatively charged, carbohydrate-rich layer that covers the luminal surface of endothelial cells. Its primary physiological function is to protect the endothelium, including the regulation of vascular permeability and homeostasis. Damage to the eGC, known as “shedding”, is an early predictor of endothelial dysfunction and is driven by oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation. In hypertension, loss of eGC integrity—often impaired by a high-salt diet—can reduce the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and increase arterial stiffness. Similarly, in CKD, uremic toxicity, hypertension, and inflammation damage the eGC, resulting in increased permeability, albuminuria, and higher cardiovascular risk. This review summarizes current evidence and underscores the potential of eGC shedding markers, especially syndecan 1 (SDC-1) and hyaluronic acid (HA), as early predictors of vascular risk and disease progression in hypertension and CKD. Full article

Objective: Excessive salt intake affects blood pressure. Thus, monitoring of salt intake is vital in the aging population. In this study, we examined the impact of salt intake reduction on medical expenditure for hypertension in Japan. Methods: System dynamics models for Japan and its 47 prefectures were developed using sub-models of salt intake, population, hypertension, and treatment costs. Co-flows of foods with high and low salt content and people with high and low salt intakes were built to calculate the daily salt intake. Aging chains of 10-year age groups from 40 to 79 years were built by sex for the population and people with hypertension (PwH). The outpatient treatment costs for hypertension were also calculated. The model parameters were calibrated using national statistics from 2012 to 2023, and prefectural models were developed to address the gaps in the national data for 2012. The simulated changes were compared across scenarios. Results: In the base run from 2012 to 2040, a reduction of 46.3% of high-salt foods and 33.1% of people with high salt intake would make a 13.9% reduction in daily salt intake from 10.1 g/day to 8.7 g/day. When salt intake is reduced to 6.9 g/day in 2040, PwH and treatment costs decrease by 2.3% and 2.0% in men and by 8.8% and 8.3% in women, respectively. The prefectural models exhibited the simulated changes. Conclusions: Our models suggest that reducing salt intake will lead to a decrease in the number of PwH and outpatient treatment costs by 2040. Full article

Although fermented seasonings play a pivotal role in improving food quality, the high sodium content of many traditional products poses considerable public health concerns, including hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study established a low-salt fermentation strategy for Mumashan chili by regulating water activity (a_w) under NaCl concentrations ranging from 4 to 12% (w/w). The a_w-regulated system effectively maintained a_w within ± 0.03 at both 25 and 40 °C, thereby sustaining stable microbial activity despite the reduced salt concentration. Compared with the control group 15% NaCl, the 4% NaCl treatments exhibited significantly higher total acidity (130–200 g/kg vs. 24–58 g/kg) and a faster consumption rate of reducing sugars, with MH12 achieving an 80% rate of reducing sugars by day 21. Sensory evaluation revealed a higher overall quality score for the low-salt chili mash (MH12, 7.7/10), which was associated with a balanced aroma profile and enhanced color stability (ΔE < 5). However, the elevated relative abundance of opportunistic pathogens (Klebsiella app., ~10%) highlights the necessity of strict raw material hygiene. Overall, these results validate the feasibility of a_w regulation for low-salt fermentation, elucidate the associations between microbial communities and flavor development, and provide a basis for future industrial applications. Full article

Hypertension is a major global health challenge, with excessive dietary salt intake recognized as a key environmental factor contributing to its pathogenesis. However, safe and effective dietary interventions for salt-sensitive hypertension remain limited. Vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata), a traditional herbal tea widely consumed for centuries in southern China, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities, yet its antihypertensive efficacy and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the chemical profile of vine tea aqueous extract (VTE) was characterized by UPLC–Q–TOF–MS, identifying dihydromyricetin, isoquercitrin, and myricetin as the predominant flavonoids. The protective effects of VTE were evaluated in C57BL/6J mice with high-salt-diet (HSD)-induced hypertension. VTE treatment significantly lowered systolic blood pressure and ameliorated cardiac and renal injury, accompanied by reduced inflammation, fibrosis, and cardiac stress-related gene expression. Gut microbiota analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that VTE restored microbial richness and diversity, enriching short-chain fatty acid-producing taxa while suppressing pathogenic Desulfovibrio and Ruminococcus torques. Untargeted plasma metabolomic profiling based on UPLC–Q–TOF–MS further showed that VTE normalized tryptophan, bile acid, and glycerophospholipid metabolism, decreasing the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate while increasing tauroursodeoxycholic acid. Notably, these protective effects were abolished under antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion, confirming that VTE acts through a gut microbiota-dependent mechanism. Collectively, VTE mitigates salt-induced hypertension and cardiorenal injury by remodeling the gut microbiota–metabolite axis, supporting its potential as a natural dietary intervention for managing hypertension. Full article

Background: The China Diet Balance Index 2022 (DBI-2022), released in 2024, is the latest dietary quality assessment tool developed in alignment with the updated Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022). However, its association with hypertension in the Lingnan region—a geographic area distinguished by a unique dietary culture—has not been fully examined. Objective: This study aimed to systematically evaluate the dietary quality of Lingnan residents using DBI-2022 and explore its association with hypertension. Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the 2015 China Adults Chronic Diseases and Nutrition Surveillance, focusing on 2982 Lingnan residents aged 45 years and older. Dietary information was collected via 3 consecutive days of 24-h dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires, supplemented by standardized anthropometric measurements. We assessed the contribution of specific dietary components to overall quality and investigated the association between DBI-2022 indices and hypertension using multivariable regression models. Results: Among the 2982 participants, 821 (27.5%) were identified with hypertension. The primary dietary imbalances in the Lingnan population were characterized by moderate insufficient consumption (Low Bound Score [LBS] = 40.48) and moderate excessive intake (High Bound Score [HBS] = 22.58), with insufficient intake being the more prominent concern. Cereals, cooking oils, and salt emerged as key contributors to poor dietary quality, whereas soybeans, fruits, adequate water consumption, and dietary diversity were associated with better dietary quality. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in the highest quartile of Diet Quality Distance (DQD) had significantly higher odds of hypertension (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.05–2.35) compared to those in the lowest quartile. Similarly, the odds were elevated for those with high LBS (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.24–2.87). Conclusions: Dietary insufficiency appears to be a more critical issue than excessive consumption among the Lingnan population. Poor dietary quality, particularly insufficient intake of protective foods, is significantly associated with elevated odds of hypertension. These findings support the applicability of DBI-2022 for regional dietary surveillance and highlight key priorities for targeted nutritional intervention strategies. Full article

Salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH) is an important and common subtype of hypertension, whose pathogenesis involves multi-level regulation, including the central nervous system (CNS), metabolic stress, and epigenetics. Dietary bioactive compounds have emerged as a research hotspot for SSH intervention due to their safety and multi-target effects. Although existing studies have focused on the CNS regulation of SSH or the role of individual dietary components, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis integrating multiple mechanisms, systematically summarizing multiple compounds, and incorporating a clinical translation perspective. This review first outlines the mechanisms of CNS pathways, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and epigenetic modifications in SSH. Then, it systematically reviews the mechanisms of action and preclinical and clinical research progress of bioactive compounds, including capsaicin, taurine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, tea, and anthocyanins in SSH. In summary, this review systematically clarifies the complex regulatory network of SSH and the intervention potential of dietary bioactive compounds from an integrated perspective, innovatively proposes a precise dietary intervention framework, and fills the research gaps in the integration of multiple mechanisms and systematic evaluation of compounds in existing studies. This framework not only provides a new integrated perspective for the basic research of SSH but also offers key references for clinical dietary guidance, functional food development, and the formulation of targeted intervention strategies. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial condition characterized by central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and hyperglycaemia, predisposing individuals to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between dietary intake, sociodemographic factors, and components of MetS among Saudi adults aged 30 years and older attending King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Fifty-three participants meeting MetS diagnostic criteria were assessed through anthropometric measurements, biochemical markers, and two-day dietary recalls analyzed using MyFood24 software. Descriptive and correlation analyses were conducted using SPSS 26.0. The majority of participants (73.6%) were aged over 50 years, were obese (75.5%), and exhibited a high waist circumference (94.3%). Low fibre (6.6 g/day) and high fat (41.8 g/day) intake patterns were evident. Salt intake showed a significant inverse correlation with systolic blood pressure (ρ = −0.36, p < 0.01), potentially reflecting under-reporting or dietary adjustments following diagnosis. Higher BMI correlated positively with waist circumference and diastolic pressure, while frequent physical activity correlated negatively with these parameters. These findings emphasize the influence of diet and lifestyle on metabolic risk and underscore the need for culturally tailored interventions promoting balanced macronutrient intake, increased fibre consumption, and enhanced physical activity to mitigate MetS prevalence among Saudi adults. Full article

Hypertension is a major public health problem worldwide, and high-salt diets are one of the main causes of hypertension. The intestinal mucosal immune system is the largest immune organ in vertebrates. Hypertension was associated with increased intestinal permeability and an inflammatory state. The bacterial communities attached to the intestinal mucosa played a significant role in the development and maturation of the autoimmune system, as well as inflammation and immunity to disease. In this review, we focused on the relationship between the impaired intestinal barrier and the development and progression of hypertension under the high-salt dietary pattern. We systematically reviewed how a high-salt diet caused hypertension by disrupting the intestinal mechanical, chemical, and microbial barriers, interacting with immunogenic isolevuglandin (IsoLG)-protein adducts and microbiota, and activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Meanwhile, this review also summarizes the dietary therapy for hypertension, which involves supplementing natural antihypertensive substances and adjusting dietary patterns to repair the intestinal barrier and assist in lowering blood pressure. Such measures included supplementing plant-based foods, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PFAs), probiotics, prebiotics, food–medicine homologous substances (FMHS), vitamins, and minerals, as well as transforming high-salt dietary patterns into the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH), the Mediterranean diet (MD), and the ketogenic diet (KD), with the aim of providing a reference for the occurrence, development, and dietary prevention and control of high-salt hypertension. Full article