A new study has found that the only people who benefit from a low sodium diet are those with high blood pressure (hypertension), and that for those with normal blood pressure a diet low in salt could actually be harmful. The study, conducted by researchers at the Population Health Research Institute of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, found that average sodium consumption is a better protection against cardiovascular disease than a low sodium diet.
Study lead author Andrew Mente says that salt is an essential nutrient that is needed by the body. Not getting enough sodium can cause a number of health issues, including an increased risk of stroke or heart attack. The healthiest choice for everyone is to maintain a moderate intake of sodium every day. He also said that, while it may be advisable that those with hypertension to lower their sodium intake, they should still maintain at least 3 grams per day.
“Just follow an overall healthy diet, and don’t be concerned about sodium,” said Mente, adding that if you eat your vegetables and fruits, don’t smoke, exercise, and minimize processed foods “you’ll be fine.”
The study, which was published Friday in the medical journal The Lancet, involved more than 130,000 people from around the world. It specifically looked at the relationship between heart disease, stroke, death and sodium intake, and how that relationship differs in people with high blood pressure when compared to those with normal blood pressure. The researchers found that low sodium intake is associated with more serious health events than occur with people who have an average intake of salt, whether or not they have high blood pressure.
According to Mente, previous research proposing the benefits of a low sodium diet was based on assumptions about how sodium levels and blood pressure were related. He said that research drew the conclusion that, since lower blood pressure and lower sodium are related, that automatically translated into a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, which Mente says is incorrect.
The new study measured actual health evens such as strokes, heart attacks and deaths. Previous studies have looked strictly at blood pressure and then drawn overall health conclusions from that data.
Over the past 5 years there have been numerous studies that cautioned about the risks of low sodium diets. Mente said that “it appears that low sodium truly is harmful and we need to be cautious before recommending low levels for the entire population.”