Increased blood pressure in schoolchildren related to high sodium levels in drinking water.

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Abstract
The relationship between Na in drinking water and blood pressure was examined in 348 children aged 7.7-11.7 yr. There were born and living in 3 areas with different levels of Na in the public drinking water. Na content of the water was either long-term low, long-term high, or short-term high. The 3 communities are closely comparable according to demographic characteristics. The mean values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in the high Na areas. After adjustment of dissimilarities in distributions of weight, height, pulse rate, age, family history of hypertension and time of blood pressure measurement, these differences remained constant, ranging from 1.8-4.0 mm Hg. Girls and boys showed essentially the same differences. Mean 24 h Na excretion was somewhat higher in the long-term area; no differences were found in Na-creatinine ratio. The regression coefficients between Na excretion and blood pressure were not significant. The findings from this retrospective follow-up study support the hypothesis that Na intake influences blood pressure. The association may be of a relatively short-term nature, as no differences in blood pressure levels were found between the long-term and short-term high areas.