Aldosterone, AF, and genetic link

[WendyWu20]

Hi, not sure if anyone else has posted on this, sorry if they have already.

Some research suggests a link between hyperaldosterone and AF... also people with AF who have had genetic testing done have found a mutation with their CYP11B2 gene. This gene regulates aldosterone.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Boombiddy]

Hello,

Thank you for posting this, it is very interesting and, for me, perplexing.

I hope you don’t mind me 'thinking out loud' here. I am trying to reason from the limited amount I know. It might help me or someone else if someone can correct my thinking.

I have to take fludrocortisone, which mimics aldosterone in retaining sodium in the body.

I need it, to increase my blood volume. I also have to take a lot of salt and water.

Having a lot of salt makes you excrete potassium (and vice versa).

The sodium-potassium balance in the body is important for blood pressure (among other things). Potassium is helpful for keeping down blood pressure by making you excrete sodium, sodium is helpful for increasing blood volume.

I am guessing that those with hyperaldosteronism will have higher salt in their bloodstream, and therefore higher blood volume and higher blood pressure.

I am wondering if people with hyperaldosteronism would find their symptoms helped by having more potassium-rich foods? Could this help with high blood pressure, and if the high blood pressure is a factor in their AF, could it maybe help with the AF?

(Potassium is widely available in vegetables and fruits, but maybe in those extreme circumstances might need to be supplemented).

What do you think? Does anyone have anything to say on this that might clarify things?

Best regards,

Bombiddy.

[WendyWu20 in reply to Boombiddy]

What you say makes sense, in relation to eating more potassium rich foods. The problem is, that maintaining the electrolyte balance in the body, is a very complex issue. Without almost constant monitoring, and adjustments, it is so difficult to keep the body in balance. Especially for someone like yourself who has related health problems. The electrolyte balance can change by the hour, and any large imbalance can be potentially life threatening. High or low blood potassium levels can cause heart problems; potassium helps the nerves and muscles 'talk' to each other.

So perhaps for someone who doesn't have any other known problems with the electrolyte balance, they could ensure a potassium rich diet, or use natural supplements. If they are lucky, they could persuade a doctor to do a blood potassium test beforehand.

[Boombiddy in reply to WendyWu20]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I think it was in the back of my mind that electrolyte balance must be more complex. I was concentrating on sodium because aldosterone appears only to regulate the sodium-potassium balance by causing the body to retain sodium, and because of my own condition.

I would like to know what the researchers think is the mechanism which connects hyperaldosteronism with AF. Here is a link in case this interests you too:

intechopen.com/books/atrial...

(I can’t say this is the only or best link).

For anybody with POTS (there are a few people on this site with POTS as well), I imagine this aldosterone question is an interesting one, given that many people with POTS are treated with fludrocortisone.