Impact of Low Sodium Diet on Immune Cells and Gut Microbiome in Primary Aldosteronism
Author Information
Author(s): Nowotny Hanna F., Zheng Tingting, Seiter Thomas Marchant, Ju Jing, Schneider Holger, Kroiss Matthias, Sarkis Anna-Lina, Sturm Lisa, Britz Vera, Lechner Andreas, Potzel Anne L., Kunz Sonja, Bidlingmaier Martin, Neuhaus Klaus, Gottschlich Adrian, Kobold Sebastian, Reisch Nicole, Schirmer Melanie, Reincke Martin, Adolf Christian
Primary Institution: LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
Hypothesis
A moderate sodium restriction in PA patients on stable antihypertensive treatment leads to changes in microbiome composition and reverses the T helper type 17 (Th17) cells dominated immunophenotypic alterations.
Conclusion
Dietary sodium restriction in patients with PA modulates the peripheral immune cell composition toward a less inflammatory phenotype.
Supporting Evidence
- Patients with primary aldosteronism showed a higher percentage of Tregs compared to normotensive controls.
- Sodium restriction led to a decrease in pro-inflammatory Tc17 cells in male patients.
- Bacteroides uniformis abundance was higher in female patients and decreased upon sodium restriction.
- Significant differences in blood pressure were observed before and after sodium restriction.
Takeaway
Eating less salt can help people with a certain type of high blood pressure feel better and may help their bodies work better.
Methodology
Prospective two-stage clinical trial with 15 treatment-naive PA patients and 31 PA patients on treatment, comparing immune cell and microbiome changes before and after sodium restriction.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small number of participants and lack of diverse settings.
Limitations
Small sample size and single center setting limit generalizability; no control group with essential hypertension for comparison.
Participant Demographics
34 patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) and 15 healthy normotensive controls, including 18 females and 13 males in the treatment group.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.0303, p = 0.00027, p = 0.0081, p = 0.0016, p = 0.0068
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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