How could diet affect postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome?

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    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    A high-sodium diet has been shown to lower standing heart rate and increase blood volume in people with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and recommendations advise 2 to 3 liters of fluids and 3 to 10 grams of sodium daily. Additionally, a gluten-free diet may alleviate some POTS symptoms, but further research is necessary to confirm this effect.

    In one randomized controlled trial, a high sodium diet (300 mEq or 6.9 grams daily) was found to lower standing heart rate and increase blood and plasma volume when compared to a low sodium diet (10 mEq or 0.2 grams daily).[1] Thus, It is generally recommended that people with POTS consume roughly 2–3 liters of fluids and 3–10 grams of sodium daily (equivalent to about 1 to 3.5 tablespoons of table salt daily).[2]

    One study showed that following a gluten-free diet alleviated some symptoms of POTS; however, more rigorous research is needed to confirm this.