The population risks of dietary salt excess are exaggerated.
Policy positions on salt consumption (based largely on the association of sodium and blood pressure [BP]) has remained unchanged since the 1970s, until recently. However, this is beginning to change as new evidence emerges. The evidence supports a strong association of sodium with BP and cardiovascular disease events in hypertensive individuals, the elderly, and those who consume > 6 g/d of sodium. However, there is no association of sodium with clinical events at 3 to 6 g/day and a paradoxical higher rate of events at < 3 g/day. Therefore, until new evidence emerges, the optimal range of sodium consumption should be considered to be between 3 and 6 g/d. Population-wide sodium reduction is not justified in countries such as Canada.
Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: andrew.mente@phri.ca.
Andrew
A
Mente
Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; HRB-Clinical Research Facility, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway, Ireland.
Martin J
MJ
O'Donnell
Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Salim
S
Yusuf
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*
D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary