title: An update on the salt wars-genuine controversy, poor science, or vested interest?
abstract: There is unequivocal evidence that increased sodium intake is associated with increased blood pressure, and that increased blood pressure leads to increased risk of vascular diseases. Unfortunately, the published evidence directly linking sodium intake to vascular risk is inconsistent and confusing. This review, emphasising recent developments in national and international settings, considers why this is the case and how vested interests - particularly the food industry - have exploited the vacuum. We argue that legislation is the only tool that is likely to reverse the current situation wherein many millions of lives are put at risk through an unnecessary dietary additive, the reduction of which would be eminently feasible and have no conceivable disadvantage to health.
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, PO BOX M201, Missenden Road, NSW, 2050, Australia, bneal@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: Mary-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Land
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Woodward
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary