Objective   To investigate the effect of chronic salt loading on vascular endothelium related markers in salt-sensitive subjects with normal blood pressure.     Methods   Totally 29 volunteers with normal blood pressure were included in this study. Their salt sensitivity (SS) was determined by chronic salt loading testing. We investigated the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure

plasma von Willebrand’s factor (vWf)

blood and urinary NO metabolites and endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentration during the period of equilibrium

high salt and low salt diet.     Results   In the 29 normotensive subjects

11 were determined as SS subjects (37.9%)

and 18 as salt resistant (SR) subjects. When compared with SR group

the SS group showed lower day-night MAP difference in the equilibrium salt load period

in which the blood pressure was significantly elevated after high salt diet. At the end of chronic high salt diet

after high salt loading

SS group’s plasma vWF was significantly elevated

and the plasma and urinary NO metabolites was decreased significantly. No significant change was seen in plasma ET-1 between SS and SR group during high salt loading period and equilibrium period.     Conclusion   Plasma vWF

blood and urinary NO metabolites in the normotensive SS people are significantly altered after high salt loading

which suggests that normotensive SS people may have high salt-mediated endothelial dysfunction.