In order to determine factors contributing to sodium induced changes of blood pressure, 20 patients with essential hypertension were studied when on their regular sodium intake and after two weeks of a low sodium diet (50 mmol daily) and two weeks of a high sodium diet (300 mmol daily). There were two periods of regular sodium intake, one of four weeks at the beginning and one of two weeks at the end of the study. The change in mean arterial pressure between the high and low salt diets (δMAP) was regarded as a measure of sodium sensitivity, and was directly correlated with age and initial blood pressure. Compared with non-responders, responders (δMAP 10 mmHg or more) showed a lesser activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system during the low salt period.The response to the administration of intravenous frusemide was not helpful in predicting sodium sensitivity. A significant but relatively small (4.2 mmHg) reduction in MAP was obtained during low salt period compared with the first period of regular sodium intake. The data suggest that moderate dietary sodium restriction can help to reduce the blood pressure of the relatively older patient with hypertension.