Observational study of the effect of substituting NaCl with NaCl+Chitosan 3% (Symbiosal®) in the diet of elderly subjects on their blood pressure values

Abstract

Aim: The main objective of the study was to describe changes in the blood pressure (BP) values of a cohort of elderly subjects as a result of substituting NaCl with NaCl+Chitosan 3% (Symbiosal®) in their diet (salt used during food preparation and added table salt).

Methods: An observational study was conducted in a rehabilitation centre for elderly where all cooked foods are produced by the local kitchen and all the salt NaCl traditionally used was replaced by Symbiosal®. All patients, hypertensive or not, were followed at inclusion and then every month to monitor their BP parameters over three months.

Results: In the total population of seventy-seven patients, SBP (mmHg) decreases from 130±17 at inclusion to 123±10 at 3 months (-7.8±8.5) (P<0.0001). In sixteen persons, whose hypertension was not under control at inclusion, it decreases from 156±18 to 136±12 after 3 months (-19.6±7.3) (P<0.0001) and among them 68.5% were controlled. In the subject with limit hypertension (between 130-140) it decreases from 135.7±3.1 to 123.2±4.9 (-12.5±4.6) (P<0.0001).

Conclusion: NaCl + chitosan 3% seems to reduce significantly the BP. This suggests that it could be used either in the field of a low salt diet in hypertensive patients but also in general or elderly population in addition to the recommendation of a salt reduction.