DRINKING WATER BEFORE THIRST STIMULATION COULD DECREASE DAILY SALT INTAKE

Abstract

The current recommendations to reduce salt intake from 9–12 g/d to 5–6 g/day will have a major effect on blood pressure and cardiovascular disease but are not ideal. A minimal increase in the plasma osmolality of 1 2% induces thirst, hypovolemia, hypotension, and angiotensin II are the most known of thirst stimuli. Certain stimuli for thirst and salt appetite are common; hence, following thirst stimulation, salt appetite is increased. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of water deprivation in Ramadan (Islamic month of fasting) on daily salt intake in fasting people and comparison with Shaa’ban (the month before Ramadan) as control. Method: Thirty male fasting students were selected for the experiment and their 24-hrs urinary sodium excretion was measured during one day of Shaa’ban and one day of Ramadan. An increase and decrease more than 15% in 24- hours urine sodium was considered as remarkable changes. Results: Five specimens were eradicated from the study owing to recommendation regarding 24-hrs creatinine excretion criteria. Changes in 24-hrs urine sodium during Ramadan in comparison with Shaa’ban were unremarkable in 7 specimens. Remarkable decrease and increase (fluctuation over 15%) were observed in 10 and 8 specimens respectively. Conclusion: Similar to the effect of fasting on weight, blood pressure, and appetite, fasting has a double effect on salt consumption. As during fasting, other parameters in addition to thirst affected salt appetite, hence the sole effect of thirst on salt appetite was covered by other parameters.