title: Salt and hypertension: current data, attitudes, and policies.
abstract: Evidence linking salt and hypertension is on the whole growing stronger, but the situation is still not clear-cut. The relationship between sodium intake and prevalence of hypertension is complicated; it is suggested that in the middle range of sodium intake another factor, possibly linked to the renal handling of sodium, contributes to the prevalence of hypertension. Attitudes among investigators and the medical profession are probably moving toward favouring salt restriction, at least for people with hypertension. The general public is also probably becoming more favourably disposed toward reducing salt consumption. Policies regarding salt in various countries appear to be hesitant, probably reflecting scientific uncertainty. Sodium content should be included on food package labels. SI units should now be universally used for the sodium content of foods on diet sheets and on package labels.
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D005515:Food Labeling; D005525:Food-Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000178:diet therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D012964:Sodium