High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a global health issue, claiming an estimated 1,000 lives every hour. Consuming a lot of table salt can lead to high blood pressure, but not everyone is affected in the same way. Research from Amsterdam UMC shows that this is related to the extracellular matrix which is similar to the slimy layer that snails have. People who can consume a lot of salt without developing high blood pressure were found to have a different composition of this protective gel around their cells.
The international study, led by Amsterdam UMC, focused on the role of genes in building the extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix helps to protect the inside of the cell when external conditions change. For example, if there is a large amount of salt around the cells, the gel acts as a buffer to prevent the cells from drying out. This protective mechanism is also seen in animals. The slimy layer of snails is made of the same components and, similar as in humans, plays an important role in hydration. When the environment around a snail changes, for instance due to salt spreading, the snail’s cells adjust the outer mucus layer as much as possible to prevent dehydration. However, this protective mechanism eventually fails under large amounts of salt.
Blocking Table Salt
The ability to adjust the extracellular matrix is controlled by about 200 genes. Researchers from Amsterdam UMC studied how the genetically determined composition of the extracellular matrix influenced the relationship between high salt intake and blood pressure in three large population studies. Two of these studies took place in the UK, while the third involved the HELIUS study, which included over 20,000 residents of Amsterdam. In all three studies, people with variants in the NDST3 gene did not develop high blood pressure despite consuming high amounts of salt. They also had a different composition of the extracellular matrix. This alternative composition helps block more table salt, preventing the negative effects of high salt consumption on the body, such as elevated blood pressure.
Lowering Blood Pressure
This research marks an important step in solving the link between high salt intake and high blood pressure. For many patients, reducing salt intake is very challenging, and this newly discovered mechanism could lead to treatments that target the extracellular matrix. Preliminary results from recent studies already show that supplements containing extracellular matrix components can significantly lower blood pressure.
You can read the scientific article in the October issue of Hypertension magazine.