Role of intestinal Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger inhibition in the prevention of cardiovascular and kidney disease

The expansion of extracellular fluid (ECF) volume increases the plasma volume, which consequently increases blood pressure and episodes of heart failure and chronic kidney disease (1). In the ECF, sodium chloride is the most abundant salt, and ECF volume increases linearly as the dietary intake of sodium increases (2). Furthermore, a normal sodium intake can also increase ECF volume in the end-stage renal disease patients (3). Thus, sodium balance is an important factor in the normal physiological functions of cardiovascular and renal system.