Sodium and menopause. Dopamine D1-receptors, Na+-K+-ATPase and CD4+ in peripheral blood as markers of renal inflammation.

It has been observed that menopausal women have a greater sensitivity to sodium intake than women in fertile age. Furthermore, it is now known that the immune system activated by high sodium intake plays an essential role in the development of hypertension. Changes observed in components of the immune system in an animal model of menopause, show the key role of estrogens in the regulation of the immune response to a high salt load. Faced with the same challenge, intact rats have adequate renal sodium management, and the immune system is not activated, while hormone-deprived rats retain sodium and show a pro-inflammatory profile. Pharmacological treatment of hypertension reduces blood pressure, but the observed renal damage remains. Therefore, menopausal women should be especially advised to have an adequate sodium intake that does not pose a risk to their health.