title: Is Salt a Culprit or an Innocent Bystander in Hypertension? A Hypothesis Challenging the Ancient Paradigm.
abstract: For decades the notion that an excessive consumption of salt (NaCl) leads to hypertension has persisted. However, this idea is based on opinion, not scientific proof. Despite this, every health organization, agency, and clinicians around the world have been advising salt restriction, especially to hypertensive patients. The present review article suggests that the consumption of a high-salt diet is not the cause of hypertension and that there are other factors, such as added sugars, which are causative for inducing hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Mo. Electronic address: jjdinicol@gmail.com.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: DiNicolantonio
authors.affiliation: Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY; MGM Medical College, Navi Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Varshil
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, Mo.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
mesh_terms: D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary
keywords: Diet; Hypertension; Salt; Sugar