The Study
Genetic Variation in SLC8A1 Gene Involved in Blood Pressure Responses to Acute Salt Loading
This study found that people with certain versions of a gene called SLC8A1 tended to have bigger blood pressure spikes when they ate more salt — but it didn’t prove the gene caused the spike. It just saw a pattern in a group of people.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Some people's blood pressure goes up more than others when they eat salt, and this might be because of their genes.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 541 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1A 2.8–3.1 mm Hg rise is small but may matter over time, especially for people already at risk for heart disease.
- 2In Chinese patients with high blood pressure, a specific gene variant (rs434082 A) was linked to a 2.8 mm Hg rise in diastolic pressure and a 3.1 mm Hg rise in mean arterial pressure after eating salt.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
American Journal of Hypertension
Year
2018
Authors
Kuo Liu, Zheng Liu, Han Qi, B. Liu, Jing-jing Wu, Yezhou Liu, Jie Zhang, H. Cao, Yuxiang Yan, Yan He, Ling Zhang
Related Content
Claims (4)
Some groups of people, depending on their ancestry or where they’re from, have bodies that react differently to salt—some get a bigger spike in blood pressure when they eat salty food, and that’s because of differences in their genes.
In people of Han Chinese descent with high blood pressure, having a specific version of a gene (rs434082 A) seems to make their blood pressure rise a little more when they eat a lot of salt, even after accounting for how much salt they’ve excreted and their age.
Some people in China with high blood pressure have a specific gene change that makes their blood pressure spike even more when they eat a lot of salt.
Scientists think a specific gene called SLC8A1 might affect how your blood pressure reacts when you eat a lot of salt, at least in people of Han Chinese descent who already have high blood pressure.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.