Grant: Operating Grant-PA: Sodium and Health

The adverse health effects of a high sodium intake have been well studied in adults. However, there are now indications in the scientific literature that sodium may begin to have important health effects during early development. Animals studies suggest that a high sodium intake by mothers during pregnancy and lactation may promote altered blood pressure and kidney function in her offspring when they later grow up to be adults. Recent animal studies suggest that, potentially, the diet of the father could also be relevant. In our research, we will use sensitive methods in rats to determine what effects a mother and father's sodium intake may have on their offspring, the mechanisms by which this may happen, and whether such effects on offspring may be passed on to subsequent generations as has been demonstrated in the case of several other nutritional factors. Collectively, our results will allow us to better understand the effects a parent's sodium intake may have in our population, and what to look for when searching for a similar effect of sodium in humans.