6D.04

Abstract

Objective: Increased potassium intake has been related to improved endothelial function and a high sodium intake is known to impair endothelial function. The effect of increasing potassium in the presence of high sodium in the postprandial state is not known. The aim was to determine the effect of increased potassium and increased sodium on post prandial endothelial function (as assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD)) and arterial compliance as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx). Design and method: Thirty nine healthy, normotensive volunteers (age 37 ± 15 and BMI 23.0 ± 2.8) received a meal with 3.1mmol potassium and 65mmol sodium (LKHN), a meal with 38mmol potassium and 65mmol sodium (HKHN) and a control meal (LKLN) with 5.5mmol sodium and 3.1mmol potassium on three separate occasions in a randomized order. FMD, PWV, AIx and BP were measured while participants were fasting and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after the meal. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to assess the effects of the meal type on the dependent variables over time. Results: The addition of potassium (HKHN meal) significantly attenuated the post meal decrease in FMD when compared to the high sodium meal (p < 0.05 meal by time) (Figure 1). FMD was significantly lower following the LKHN meal when compared to the HKHN meal at 30 minutes (p < 0.05). AIx decreased after all meals (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in AIx, PWV or BP between treatments over time.Conclusions: The addition of potassium to a high sodium meal attenuates the post meal reduction in endothelial function as assessed by FMD. There were no between meal differences on PWV and AIx.