Analyzing Genetic Factors Involved in Blood Pressure Changes Due to Salt and Potassium Intake (The GenSalt Study) (GenSalt)

July 28, 2016 updated by: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Genetic Epidemiology Network of Salt Sensitivity

High blood pressure is a serious health problem. In terms of diet recommendations, people with this condition are encouraged to eat a low sodium and high potassium diet. It is believed that genetics may play a role in the development of high blood pressure and may affect changes in blood pressure levels, including changes brought on by sodium and potassium. This study will identify genetic factors that may influence blood pressure changes due to increased salt or potassium intake in people with mildly elevated blood pressure and in their family members.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

High blood pressure is one of the most common health problems among adults. If left untreated, it can lead to heart failure, kidney failure, or stroke. Common causes include stress, diet, diabetes, kidney disease, or obesity. Typical treatments include taking medication, losing weight, and quitting smoking. It is also recommended that people with high blood pressure or those at risk of developing high blood pressure modify their diets to decrease sodium intake and increase potassium intake. Research has shown that genetics may play a role in the development of high blood pressure and may affect fluctuations of blood pressure levels, including blood pressure changes brought on by sodium and potassium. This study will identify and analyze the genetic factors that may be responsible for blood pressure changes due to dietary salt and potassium intake. Blood samples collected in this study may also be used for future genetic research on blood pressure.

This study will enroll people who have mildly elevated blood pressure and their siblings, spouses, and children. Participants will first take part in a 3-day observation period. At a Day 1 study visit, participants' weight, height, waist size, and blood pressure will be measured. There will be three separate blood pressure measurements. Study staff will then interview participants to collect information on family and personal medical history, cigarette smoking habits, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and diet. Finally, blood samples will be collected. For 24 hours after the first study visit, participants will collect their urine. At study visits on Days 2 and 3, participants will undergo three blood pressure measurements and a cold pressor test, which measures blood pressure at different body temperatures. Participants will also collect a urine sample each night.

After the 3-day observation period, participants will take part in a 3-week treatment period. Each day, all participants will eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the study kitchen. For Days 1 through 7, participants will eat a low sodium diet; for Days 7 through 14, participants will eat a high sodium diet; and for Days 14 through 21, participants will eat a high sodium diet and receive potassium supplements. Blood pressure will be measured three times per day and urine will be collected at several times during this period. Blood samples will be collected at the end of each week.

Parents of participants will also be enrolled in this study, and they will complete the same study procedures that participants complete during the 3-day observation period except for the urine collection.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "Completed Date" entered in the Query View Report System (QVR).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

1906

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • China
      • Beijing, China
        • Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Inclusion Criteria for Primary Participants:

  • Between 18 and 60 years old
  • Systolic blood pressure level of 130 to 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure level of 85 to 100 mm Hg
  • Both parents (2-generation nuclear family) or at least one parent (at least a 3-generation family) is available and willing to participate in the study
  • At least one sibling meets eligibility criteria for participation

Inclusion Criteria for Sibling/Spouse/Child Participants:

  • Siblings and spouses must be between 18 and 60 years old; children must be more than 16 years old
  • Lives in the same village as the main study participant

Exclusion Criteria for All Participants:

  • Current stage 2 hypertension (systolic blood pressure level greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure level greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg)
  • Current or recent (i.e., less than 1 month before the screening visit) use of antihypertensive medications or medications that affect blood pressure
  • Secondary hypertension
  • History of clinical cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease
  • Chronic kidney failure or urinary albumin concentration of greater than or equal to 20 mg/dL
  • Current diabetes (i.e., fasting serum glucose level greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL) or use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents
  • Peptic ulcer disease requiring treatment in the 2 years before study entry
  • Liver disease requiring treatment in the 2 years before study entry
  • Pregnant
  • Heavy alcohol drinker (i.e., more than 14 drinks per week)
  • Currently adhering to a low sodium diet

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1
Participants will follow a low sodium diet for Days 1 through 7, a high sodium diet for Days 7 through 14, and a high sodium diet plus potassium supplement regimen for Days 14 through 21.
Behavioral: Low Sodium Diet
3 grams of salt or 51.3 mmol of sodium per day
Behavioral: High Sodium Diet
18 grams of salt or 307.8 mmol of sodium per day
Dietary supplement: Potassium Supplementation
60 mmol potassium supplement

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Blood pressure
Time Frame: Measured at Day 21
Measured at Day 21

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

October 1, 2003

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2005

Study Completion (Actual)

May 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 22, 2008

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 22, 2008

First Posted (Estimate)

July 24, 2008

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

July 29, 2016

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 28, 2016

Last Verified

August 1, 2008

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1412
  • U01HL072507 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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