Low-Salt Intake Suggestions in Hypertensive Patients Do not Jeopardize Urinary Iodine Excretion.

A low-sodium diet is an essential part of the treatment of hypertension. However, some concerns have been raised with regard to the possible reduction of iodine intake during salt restriction. We obtained 24-h urine collections for the evaluation of iodine (UIE) and sodium excretion (UNaV) from 136 hypertensive patients, before and after 9 ± 1 weeks of a simple low-sodium diet.

Simple dietary advice reduces 24-hour urinary sodium excretion, blood pressure, and drug consumption in hypertensive patients.

Sodium intake should be restricted to 100 mEq, that is, about 2.3 grams per day. Strict diets, however, are often cumbersome and seldom matched by rigorous compliance.