OBJECTIVESalt-sensitivity plays an important role in essential hypertension and is associated with more severe target organ injury and higher mortality in patients with essential hypertension. However, the pathologic mechanism of salt-sensitivity is poorly understood and endothelial dysfunction might be involved in salt-sensitive hypertension. We, therefore, observed the endothelial function changes by measuring plasma and urine nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in salt-sensitive (SS) normotensive and mild hypertensive subjects underwent various salt loading protocols and the effects of potassium supplement.

METHODSThirty-nine normotensive and mild hypertensive subjects (< 160/100 mm Hg), aged 16-60, were enrolled and the study protocol is as follows: 3 days baseline investigation, 1 week low-salt loading (3 g/day), 1 week. high-salt loading (18 g/day) and 1 week high-salt loading plus potassium chloride (4.5 g/day).

RESULTSPlasma and urine NO levels were significantly lower in SS (n = 8) subjects at baseline, low-salt and high-salt loading phases compared with salt-resistant subjects (SR, n = 31) and oral potassium supplement to SS subjects with high salt loading significantly increased plasma and urine NO levels.

CONCLUSIONEndothelial function is impaired in normotensive and mild hypertensive SS subjects. Oral potassium supplement could improve endothelial function in normotensive and mild hypertensive SS subjects.