Salty Subjects: Unpacking Racial Differences in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension.

Soolim Jeong, Stacy D Hunter, Marc D Cook, Gregory J Grosicki, Austin T Robinson

Journal: Current hypertension reports 2024;26(1):43-58

PMID: 37878224

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Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review underlying mechanisms and environmental factors that may influence racial disparities in the development of salt-sensitive blood pressure.

RECENT FINDINGS

Our group and others have observed racial differences in diet and hydration, which may influence salt sensitivity. Dietary salt elicits negative alterations to the gut microbiota and immune system, which may increase hypertension risk, but little is known regarding potential racial differences in these physiological responses. Antioxidant supplementation and exercise offset vascular dysfunction following dietary salt, including in Black adults. Furthermore, recent work proposes the role of racial differences in exposure to social determinants of health, and differences in health behaviors that may influence risk of salt sensitivity. Physiological and environmental factors contribute to the mechanisms that manifest in racial differences in salt-sensitive blood pressure. Using this information, additional work is needed to develop strategies that can attenuate racial disparities in salt-sensitive blood pressure.

Address: Neurovascular Physiology Laboratory (NVPL), School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.; Department of Health & Human Performance, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.; Department of Kinesiology, North Carolina Agriculture and Technology State University, Greensboro, NC, 27411, USA.; Biodynamics and Human Performance Center, Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus), Savannah, GA, 31419, USA.; Neurovascular Physiology Laboratory (NVPL), School of Kinesiology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1007/s11906-023-01275-z