Objective To investigate the association of adiponectin gene single nucleotide polymorphism rs266729(-11377C/G) with blood pressure responses to dietary sodium and potassium. Methods All subjects (n= 342) from 126 families in rural areas of Shaanxi Province were recruited. After a 3-day baseline observation, the participants were selected to undergo a low-sodium diet (51.3mmol per day) for 7 days, a high-sodium diet (307.8 mmol per day) for 7 days, and subsequently a high-sodium plus potassium diet (60mmol per day) for an additional 7 days. Totally 342 subjects were classified into salt-sensitive group (SS, 130 subjects) and non-salt sensitive group (NSS, 212 subjects) on the basis of whether their mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) increased by more than 10 percent at the end of the high-sodium phase compared with the low-sodium phase. The DNA was extracted with ReadyAmpTM genomic DNA purification system. SNP rs266729 polymorphism was analyzed by ligase detection reaction polymerase chain reaction (LDR-PCR). Results The prevalence of SS was 38%. The mean levels of baseline SBP, DBP and MAP in the proband group were higher than those in the sibling, spouse and offspring groups, whereas the baseline SBP level in the parent group was the highest among all the groups. Overall, BP levels were reduced and increased in response to the low-sodium and high-sodium intervention, and BP levels were again reduced in response to the high-sodium plus potassium supplementation intervention. Compared with the baseline values, urinary excretion of sodium significantly decreased during the low-salt intervention but increased during the high-salt intervention. In addition, potassium supplementation could not only increase urinary potassium excretion but also slightly promote urinary sodium excretion. SNP rs266729(-11377C/G) in the adiponectin gene promoter region was significantly associated with salt sensitivity (Z =2.320, P =0.020) and reactivity to potassium (Z = 2.325, P=0.020). Conclusion The SNP rs266729 (-11377C / G) in the adiponectin gene promoter region may contribute to the genetic risk for blood pressure salt sensitivity and reactivity to potassium.