Why your brain doesn't make you blood-pressure crazy when you eat salty food
Sodium balance, arterial pressure, and the role of the subfornical organ during chronic changes in dietary salt.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Removing a key brain region involved in angiotensin II signaling did not affect blood pressure during prolonged salt changes.
Prior research linked the SFO to blood pressure regulation via angiotensin II, so finding no effect on MAP during high-salt intake was unexpected.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t assume your salt intake directly causes high blood pressure—your body may be efficiently flushing it out.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Removing a key brain region involved in angiotensin II signaling did not affect blood pressure during prolonged salt changes.
Prior research linked the SFO to blood pressure regulation via angiotensin II, so finding no effect on MAP during high-salt intake was unexpected.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t assume your salt intake directly causes high blood pressure—your body may be efficiently flushing it out.
Publication
Journal
American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
Year
2005
Authors
M. Hendel, J. Collister
Related Content
Claims (5)
Higher dietary salt intake does not lead to sustained increases in blood pressure in healthy humans over months and years as the body self-regulates.
Cutting out a small part of the rat's brain called the SFO didn't change their blood pressure, even when they ate a lot more or a lot less salt than normal.
Cutting out a small part of the rat’s brain called the SFO didn’t change their blood pressure, even when they ate a lot more or a lot less salt than normal.
When rats had a part of their brain (SFO) removed, they kept less salt in their bodies during the first few days of eating a very salty diet, meaning that part of the brain helps control how the body handles extra salt.
When rats had a part of their brain (SFO) removed, they kept less salt in their bodies during the first few days of eating a very salty diet, meaning that part of the brain might help the body decide how much salt to hold onto.