Which of the following is a primary goal of dietary management in patients with hypertension?

Reducing sodium intake is a primary goal of dietary management in patients with hypertension because excessive sodium can lead to fluid retention and increased blood pressure. Sodium plays a significant role in regulating blood volume and vascular tension; therefore, lower sodium consumption can help lower blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of hypertension-related complications, such as heart disease and stroke.

When sodium intake is reduced, it helps to decrease the amount of fluid the body retains, thus lowering the workload on the heart and the pressure within the blood vessels. Dietary approaches often emphasize this reduction as part of strategies like the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which have been shown to be effective in managing hypertension.

The other options focus on different aspects of nutrition but do not address the direct impact sodium has on blood pressure as effectively as reducing sodium intake does.