Why some people's blood pressure spikes when they eat salty food
Genetic Variation in SLC8A1 Gene Involved in Blood Pressure Responses to Acute Salt Loading
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The rs434082 A allele had a statistically significant effect (FDR_q = 0.029) even after adjusting for actual sodium intake (via urinary excretion), meaning the gene’s effect isn’t just about how much salt someone eats.
Most people assume salt sensitivity is just about consuming more salt — but this suggests the body’s internal response to salt is genetically wired, regardless of intake.
Practical Takeaways
If you have high blood pressure and eat a lot of salt, consider reducing sodium intake — this study suggests your genes may make you more sensitive to it.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The rs434082 A allele had a statistically significant effect (FDR_q = 0.029) even after adjusting for actual sodium intake (via urinary excretion), meaning the gene’s effect isn’t just about how much salt someone eats.
Most people assume salt sensitivity is just about consuming more salt — but this suggests the body’s internal response to salt is genetically wired, regardless of intake.
Practical Takeaways
If you have high blood pressure and eat a lot of salt, consider reducing sodium intake — this study suggests your genes may make you more sensitive to it.
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.