An exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise is associated with the dietary sodium, potassium, and antioxidant vitamin intake in normotensive subjects

ABSTRACTAim: This study was designed to examine the associations between an exaggerated systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to exercise and the nutrient intake in normotensive subjects.Methods: The subjects consisted of 302 normotensive subjects (64 males and 238 females; age, 48.4 ± 11.3 years) without a history of cardiovascular disease or stroke who were not taking any medications. Each subject performed a multistage graded submaximal exercise stress test using an electric bicycle ergometer, and their blood pressure was measured at rest and during the last minute of each stage. The nutrient intake was assessed using a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. An exaggerated SBP response to exercise was defined according to the criteria of the Framingham Study (peak SBP ≥210 mmHg in males, or ≥190 mmHg in females).Results: An exaggerated SBP response to exercise was observed in 85 subjects. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the dietary sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio (odds ...