Observational study of the effect of substituting NaCl with NaCl+Chitosan 3% (Symbiosal (R)) in the diet of elderly subjects on their blood pressure values

Aim. The main objective of the study was to describe changes in the blood pressure (BP) values of a cohort of elderly subjects as a result of substituting NaCl with NaCl+Chitosan 3% (Symbiosal (R)) in their diet (salt used during food preparation and added table salt). Methods. An observational study was conducted in a rehabilitation centre for elderly where all cooked foods are produced by the local kitchen and all the salt NaCl traditionally used was replaced by Symbiosal (R). All patients, hypertensive or not, were followed at inclusion and then every month to monitor their BP parameters over three months. Results. In the total population of seventy-seven patients, SBP (mmHg) decreases from 130 +/- 17 at inclusion to 123 +/- 10 at 3 months (-7.8 +/- 8.5) (P<0.0001). In sixteen persons, whose hypertension was not under control at inclusion, it decreases from 156 +/- 18 to 136 +/- 12 after 3 months (-19.6 +/- 7.3) (P<0.0001) and among them 68.5% were controlled. In the subject with limit hypertension (between 130-140) it decreases from 135.7 +/- 3.1 to 123.2 +/- 4.9 (-12.5 +/- 4.6) (P<0.0001). Conclusion. NaCl + chitosan 3% seems to reduce significantly the BP. This suggests that it could be used either in the field of a low salt diet in hypertensive patients but also in general or elderly population in addition to the recommendation of a salt reduction.