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Too much salt and too little potassium in our diets are well known contributors to cardiovascular disease. Yet measuring how much of each we actually consume is tricky. The gold standard is a full 24‑hour urine collection — but that’s cumbersome and impractical for many. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

A new study in a Portuguese adult population explored whether first-morning void (FMV) urine samples — just one urine sample collected first thing in the morning — could serve as a practical alternative. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

What did the study find?

• When combined with predictive equations, FMV samples showed moderate to strong correlation with 24‑hour urine measurements — though they sometimes over‑ or under‑estimated urine excretion. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• For sodium estimation, the Toft equation performed best: it correlated moderately and didn’t systematically over‑ or under‑estimate. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• For potassium, the Tanaka and Kawasaki equations also correlated, but often underestimated true excretion. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• By calibrating the predictive equations, accuracy improved further. For sodium, calibrated FMV estimates aligned moderately with dietary recall; for potassium, the alignment was weaker, but still showed promise. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Why it matters

While a full 24‑hour urine sample remains the most reliable method, calibrated FMV urine offers a more practical alternative—especially for large scale studies or public health monitoring. It could lower the burden on participants while still providing useful estimates of sodium and potassium intake. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

More research is needed to fine‑tune the predictive models, optimize timing, and reduce bias. But already, FMV sampling may represent a promising tool in the effort to monitor and manage salt and potassium intake at population levels. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Article One:

How Fibre + Nitrates Could Support Heart Health — from Gut Bacteria Research

A recent trial published in Gut Microbiome explored whether combining fermentable fibre (inulin) with nitrate (found in leafy greens, beetroot, etc.) could boost beneficial gut metabolites and lower blood pressure. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

What they did

• 20 adults participated in a randomised, crossover trial.

• They ingested 15 g inulin, 400 mg nitrate, or both together, in different periods. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• Scientists measured changes in:

  • Plasma nitrates / nitrites

  • Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), produced by gut bacteria

  • Blood pressure

What they found

• Plasma nitrate / nitrite levels rose after nitrate alone and after the fibre + nitrate combo. Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• SCFAs increased with fibre and the combination — though differences weren’t statistically strong (probably due to individual variation). Cambridge University Press & Assessment

• There was no clear “main effect” on blood pressure in the short time frame, but interesting correlations emerged:

  • Higher peak nitrite was linked to lower diastolic pressure and mean arterial pressure. Cambridge University Press & Assessment 

What it means for us

• This shows that diet combinations (fibre + nitrate) might interact with gut bacteria in ways that influence heart health.

• It underscores that what we feed our gut microbes can ripple out to affect our bodies — beyond just digestion.

Takeaway tips (practical)

• Eat plenty of fibre-rich foods — e.g., whole grains, beans, vegetables.

• Include nitrate-rich greens, such as spinach, rocket, beetroot.

• Think of your plate as more than “macro balance” — it’s also microbial nourishment.