Influence of beta-blockade on aldosterone metabolism under normal and low sodium diet in man.

During a five days administration, Propranolol (80 mg daily) or Acebutolol (600 mg daily) decreased significantly plasma renin activity in 14 mild essential hypertensive patients under a normal (8 patients) or low sodium (6 patients) diet. Plasma aldosterone and aldosterone secretion rate were significantly lowered by treatment under the low sodium diet, but unchanged during the normal sodium diet. In the latter, the dissociation observed between renin and aldosterone did not involve a change in aldosterone metabolic clearance rate or in plasma potassium. The decrease in plasma aldosterone was significantly correlated to the initial renin activity. These results demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of two different betablocking agents on renin release is not related to their cardio-selectivity and is independent of sodium balance. The influence of the renin decrease on aldosterone is dependent on sodium balance and on the initial state of the renin angiotensin system.