2003 HBP news tips( um and hydrogen. The researchers said ...),Health

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003

1:30 p.m. Abstract P182 Blood pressure linked to total mineral intake. High sodium intake has been shown to increase, and low sodium intake to decrease, blood pressure in some people. However, based on a statistical analysis of data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) between 1980-2000, researchers suggested that higher blood pressure was associated with a diet low in minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium, rather than high sodium intake. These researchers analyzed data from NHANES III and IV (NHANES I was done in 1970). The researchers divided participants' sodium, calcium and total mineral intake (calcium, potassium, magnesium) into four groups. While blood pressure did not vary significantly according to sodium intake, higher calcium intake was linked to lower blood pressure. In NHANES III, higher total mineral intake was associated with lower blood pressure. The researchers suggest that sodium's effects on blood pressure appear to depend on other mineral intake. Where sodium intake was associated with high blood pressure, mineral intake was poor. NHANES data is compiled from people who were asked to recall their daily or weekly eating habits in a national survey, and is subject to the limitations of such data. The American Heart Association recommends that healthy adults limit their sodium intake to no more than 2400 milligrams (about one teaspoon of table salt) per day.

1:30 p.m. Abstract P199 Treatment that talks: Cell phones transmit data to doctors. Cellular technology can help control high blood pressure by transmitting data from patients to their doctors, according to Japanese researchers. They said it is an improvement over standard telemedicine monitoring that relies on regular landline tele
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Contact: Carole Bullock
carole.bullock@heart.org
214-706-1279
American Heart Association
25-Sep-2003