Low-sodium diet may have been validated as a direct route to prevention of heart disease, according to recent studies in Boston. Current recommendations for salt reduction have relied primarily on clinical trial evidence on hypertension trials. The connection between a low-sodium diet and prevention of heart disease has been long suspected but never conclusively proven. Prehypertensive patients who reduced salt intake had a 25% to 30% less adverse cardiovascular events over the subsequent 10 to 15 years, reported Nancy R. Cook, Sc.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital.
To conclusively answer such questions, the researchers followed 2,415 patients from two earlier salt-reduction studies. "Despite its relatively small size, it provides some of the strongest objective evidence to date that low sodium intake reduces the risk of future cardiovascular disease," the researchers concluded.
Currently, the American Heart Association recommends a daily salt intake below 2,300 mg for most people. This evidence suggests that low salt intake maybe beneficial to the majority of people whether hypertensive or not.
To conclusively answer such questions, the researchers followed 2,415 patients from two earlier salt-reduction studies. "Despite its relatively small size, it provides some of the strongest objective evidence to date that low sodium intake reduces the risk of future cardiovascular disease," the researchers concluded.
Currently, the American Heart Association recommends a daily salt intake below 2,300 mg for most people. This evidence suggests that low salt intake maybe beneficial to the majority of people whether hypertensive or not.
