Effects of Dietary Salt-Based Minerals and Phosphorus Supplements on Mean Body Weight, Survival Rate and Feed Conversion Ratio of White Shrimp Reared In Brackish Water

This study aimed to examine the impact of dietary salt-based mineral and phosphorus supplements on mean body weight, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio of Litopenaeus vannamei (white shrimp) reared in brackish water. The experiment was performed randomized design with three replicates in each treatment used twelve 40 L rectangular polymethyl methacrylate containers reared 45 days. The four treatments in this study were based on the concentration of salt-based mineral and phosphorus supplements (control or 0 ppm, one ppm, two ppm, and three ppm) in dietary of white shrimp. The results showed that using salt-based mineral and phosphorus supplements in dietary of white shrimp positively impacts mean body weight, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio. Increasing the concentration of salt-based mineral and phosphorus supplements increased mean body weight and survival rate and reduced feed conversion ratio of white shrimp. The mean body weight, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio of white shrimp were achieved with three ppm of dietary salt-based mineral, and phosphorus supplements reared 45 days was 5.98 gr, 88.57%, and 1.45, respectively.

The Bidirectional Signal Communication of Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Hypertension

Hypertension is a critical risk factor of cardiovascular diseases. A new concept of microbiota-gut-brain axis has been established recently, mediating the bidirectional communication between the gut and its microbiome and the brain. Alterations in bidirectional interactions are believed to be involved in the blood pressure regulation. Neuroinflammation and increased sympathetic outflow act as the descending innervation signals from the brain. Increased sympathetic activation plays a recognized role in the genesis of hypertension. The present evidence demonstrates that gut dysbiosis is associated with central nervous system neuroinflammation. However, how the gut influences the brain remains unclear. We reviewed the roles of neuroinflammation and gut microbiota and their interactions in the pathogenesis of hypertension and described the ascending signaling mechanisms behind the microbiota-gut-brain axis in detail. Additionally, the innovative prohypertensive mechanisms of dietary salt through the microbiota-gut-brain axis are summarized. The bidirectional communication mechanisms were proposed for the first time that the descending signals from the brain and the ascending connections from the gut form a vicious circle of hypertension progression, acting as a premise for hypertension therapy.

Associations of Health Literacy with Blood Pressure and Dietary Salt Intake among Adults: A Systematic Review

Health literacy has been recognized as a significant social determinant of health, defined as the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health-related information across healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion. This systematic review aims to understand the relationship between health literacy, blood pressure, and dietary salt intake. A web-based search of PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, ProQuest, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Prospero was performed using specified search/MESH terms and keywords. Two reviewers independently performed the data extraction and analysis, cross-checked, reviewed, and resolved any discrepancies by the third reviewer. Twenty out of twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and were rated as good quality papers and used in the final analysis. Higher health literacy had shown to have better blood pressure or hypertension knowledge. However, the relationship between health literacy with dietary salt intake has shown mixed and inconsistent findings. Studies looking into the main four domains of health literacy are still limited. More research exploring the links between health literacy, blood pressure, and dietary salt intake in the community is warranted. Using appropriate and consistent health literacy tools to evaluate the effectiveness of salt reduction as health promotion programs is required.

Measurement of hemodynamic parameters and antidepressant activity in hypertensive rats following two weeks consumption of Acacia tortilis leaves extract

Background: Depression is common in hypertensive patients, and monotherapy may contribute for controlling depression in hypertensive patients and improving the socioeconomic outcomes. Previous studies have shown that Acacia tortilis possesses hypotensive activity. Objectives: Hence, the present study was planned to evaluate the hemodynamic activity and antidepressant effects of an ethanolic extract of Acacia tortilis leaves (ATEL) in salt-induced hypertensive rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups for experiments. The rats received respective treatment for 15 days: G1: Control (C); G2: Hypertensive control (HC: high dietary salt, 4% 10ml/kg); G3-5: HC+ ATEL (50, 100, 150mg/kg respectively). Cardiac hemodynamics (mean arterial blood pressure: MAP and heart rate: HR) were measured in the anaesthetized rats by an invasive method. For this method, one carotid artery was catheterized, a pressure catheter (pressure volume Millar microtip catheter connected to the Mikro-Tip Pressure-Volume System from Ultra Foundation Systems, PowerLab) was inserted, and the blood pressure (MAP in mm Hg) and HR (beats/min) were monitored continuously during the experiment. For the neuropharmacological studies, antidepressant activity was assessed by forced swim test on the 15th day. Results: A dose-dependent significant increase in mobility time was observed in rats (G3-5) treated with HC + different doses of ATEL (p < 0.05). However, the mobility time was significantly reduced by HC (G2) treatment compared with that of the control (p< 0.05). The hypertensive control (high dietary salt: HC) group showed significant increases in SP, DP, MAP, and HR (p<0.05) compared to the control (G1) group. At all doses (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), MAP and HR were found to decrease significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the values in the HC (G2) group. Further analysis revealed an improvement in heart rate variability (HRV) in ATEL-treated hypertensive rats. Conclusion: The present research suggests that increased dietary salt intake not only increases blood pressure significantly but also increases depression. ATEL contains some efficacious constituents, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT: a 5-HT1A agonist) with predominant antidepressant and antihypertensive activity. Hence, ATEL appears to be a valuable plant extract that can be useful, at least as an adjunct, for therapy in patients who suffer from both depression and hypertension. Objectives: Hence, the present study was planned to evaluate the hemodynamic activity and antidepressant effects of an ethanolic extract of Acacia tortilis leaves (ATEL) in salt-induced hypertensive rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups for experiments. The rats received respective treatment for 15 days: G1: Control (C); G2: Hypertensive control (HC: high dietary salt, 4% 10ml/kg); G3-5: HC+ ATEL (50, 100, 150mg/kg respectively). Cardiac hemodynamics (mean arterial blood pressure: MAP and heart rate: HR) were measured in the anaesthetized rats by an invasive method. For this method, one carotid artery was catheterized, a pressure catheter (pressure volume Millar microtip catheter connected to the Mikro-Tip Pressure-Volume System from Ultra Foundation Systems, PowerLab) was inserted, and the blood pressure (MAP in mm Hg) and HR (beats/min) were monitored continuously during the experiment. For the neuropharmacological studies, antidepressant activity was assessed by forced swim test on the 15th day. Results: A dose-dependent significant increase in mobility time was observed in rats (G3-5) treated with HC + different doses of ATEL (p < 0.05). However, the mobility time was significantly reduced by HC (G2) treatment compared with that of the control (p< 0.05). The hypertensive control (high dietary salt: HC) group showed significant increases in SP, DP, MAP, and HR (p<0.05) compared to the control (G1) group. At all doses (50, 100 and 150 mg/kg), MAP and HR were found to decrease significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the values in the HC (G2) group. Further analysis revealed an improvement in heart rate variability (HRV) in ATEL-treated hypertensive rats. Conclusion: The present research suggests that increased dietary salt intake not only increases blood pressure significantly but also increases depression. ATEL contains some efficacious constituents, N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT: a 5-HT1A agonist) with predominant antidepressant and antihypertensive activity. Hence, ATEL appears to be a valuable plant extract that can be useful, at least as an adjunct, for therapy in patients who suffer from both depression and hypertension.

Low-Salt Diet Attenuates B-Cell- and Myeloid-Cell-Driven Experimental Arthritides by Affecting Innate as Well as Adaptive Immune Mechanisms

A link between high sodium chloride (salt) intake and the development of autoimmune diseases was previously reported. These earlier studies demonstrated exacerbation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and colitis by excess salt intake associated with Th17- and macrophage-mediated mechanisms. Little is known about the impact of dietary salt intake on experimental arthritides. Here, we investigated if salt restriction can exert beneficial effects on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and K/BxN serum transfer-induced arthritis (STIA). CIA depends on both adaptive and innate immunity, while STIA predominantly mimics the innate immune cell-driven effector phase of arthritis. In both models, low salt (LS) diet significantly decreased arthritis severity compared to regular salt (RS) and high salt (HS) diet. We did not observe an aggravation of arthritis with HS diet compared to RS diet. Remarkably, in STIA, LS diet was as effective as IL-1 receptor blocking treatment. Complement-fixing anti-CII IgG2a antibodies are associated with inflammatory cell infiltration and cartilage destruction. LS diet reduced anti-CII IgG2a levels in CIA and decreased the anti-CII IgG2a/IgG1 ratios pointing toward a more Th2-like response. Significantly less inflammatory joint infiltrates and cartilage breakdown associated with reduced protein concentrations of IL-1 beta (CIA and STIA), IL-17 (CIA), and the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (CIA) were detected in mice receiving LS diet compared to HS diet. However, we did not find a reduced IL-17A expression in CD4+ T cells upon salt restriction in CIA. Analysis of mRNA transcripts and immunoblots revealed a link between LS diet and inhibition of the p38 MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/NFAT5 (nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5) signaling axis in STIA. Further experiments indicated a decreased leukodiapedesis under LS conditions. In conclusion, dietary salt restriction ameliorates CIA and STIA, indicating a beneficial role of LS diet during both the immunization and effector phase of immune-mediated arthritides by predominantly modulating the humoral immunity and the activation status of myeloid lineage cells. Hence, salt restriction might represent a supportive dietary intervention not only to reduce cardiovascular risk, but also to improve human inflammatory joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

A Personal and Practical Answer from A Clinical Perspective

Restoring sodium and fluid homeostasis in hemodialysis (HD) patients is a crucial aim to reduce cardiovascular burden and improve global outcome. This crucial target is achieved at maximum in one quarter of HD patients according to a recent study. Sodium and fluid balance relies on a multitarget approach involving dietary salt restriction, dialysis salt mass removal and eventually residual kidney function. Salt mass removal in hemodialysis relies on ultrafiltration (convective sodium), the dialysate–plasma sodium gradient (diffusive sodium) and total treatment time. Manual dialysate sodium prescription has three major aims: dialysate–plasma sodium gradient; sodium mass removal target; hemodialysis tolerance and patient risks. In the future, automated dialysate sodium adjustment by HD machine will facilitate this aim.

Tempol Alters Urinary Extracellular Vesicle Lipid Content and Release While Reducing Blood Pressure during the Development of Salt-Sensitive Hypertension

Salt-sensitive hypertension resulting from an increase in blood pressure after high dietary salt intake is associated with an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are known to increase the activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), and therefore, they have an indirect effect on sodium retention and increasing blood pressure. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry various molecules including proteins, microRNAs, and lipids and play a role in intercellular communication and intracellular signaling in health and disease. We investigated changes in EV lipids, urinary electrolytes, osmolality, blood pressure, and expression of renal ENaC and its adaptor protein, MARCKS/MARCKS Like Protein 1 (MLP1) after administration of the antioxidant Tempol in salt-sensitive hypertensive 129Sv mice. Our results show Tempol infusion reduces systolic blood pressure and protein expression of the alpha subunit of ENaC and MARCKS in the kidney cortex of hypertensive 129Sv mice. Our lipidomic data show an enrichment of diacylglycerols and monoacylglycerols and reduction in ceramides, dihydroceramides, and triacylglycerols in urinary EVs from these mice after Tempol treatment. These data will provide insight into our understanding of mechanisms involving strategies aimed to inhibit ROS to alleviate salt-sensitive hypertension.