The Effect of Potassium and Bicarbonate Ions on the Rise in Blood Pressure Caused by Sodium Chloride

A group of eight patients with mild hypertension, sensitive to sodium intake, were studied. 2. Sodium chloride (70 mmol daily) caused their blood pressure to rise by 19/14 mmHg. 3. Sodium bicarbonate (70 mmol daily) caused their blood pressure to rise by 12/5 mmHg. 4. Sodium chloride given together with potassium chloride (70 mmol of each daily) caused their blood pressure to rise by 9.6 mmHg. 5. These results suggest that sodium bicarbonate causes a smaller rise in blood pressure than sodium chloride does and that potassium chloride reduces the blood pressure raising effect of sodium chloride. 6. A low sodium, high potassium and an alkaline diet may therefore be a more effective dietary method to reduce blood pressure than a diet low in sodium alone.