Eating too LITTLE salt may INCREASE your risk of a heart attack or stroke, claims controversial new research

  • Long-held that high-salt diet increases the risk of heart attack and stroke
  • Dramatic U-turn as new study suggests low-salt intake has same effect
  • WHO expert tells of 'disbelief' at study as he blasts the 'bad science'
  • WHO recommends people eat between 5 and 6g of salt each day
  • But, average person consumes twice that, eating 9 to 12g per day 

A controversial new study has suggested that eating too little salt can increase a person's risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke

A controversial new study has suggested that eating too little salt can increase a person's risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke

It has long been held that a diet high in salt is dangerous to the heart, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.

But, in a dramatic U-turn, the scientific evidence has suggested the opposite can also be true.

A global study has found that, contrary to past belief, low-salt diets may not be beneficial.

Rather, they can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death, compared with average salt consumption.

The study, published in the reputable Lancet journal, has garnered strong reaction, with one expert declaring his 'disbelief', while others are critical of the study's methods, and calling its findings into question.

The research was carried out by investigators at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences.

They analyzed more than 130,000 people across 49 countries, focusing on whether the relationship between sodium (salt) intake and death, heart disease and stroke differs in people with high blood pressure compared to those with normal blood pressure.

Their findings showed that regardless of whether people have high blood pressure, low-salt intake is linked to a greater incidence of heart attacks, stroke, and deaths compared to average intake.

Dr Andrew Mente, lead author, and associate professor of clinical epidemiology and biostatistics at McMaster's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, hailed the findings 'extremely important' for those suffering high blood pressure.

He said: 'While our data highlights the importance of reducing high salt intake in people with hypertension (high blood pressure), it does not support reducing salt intake to low levels.

'Our findings are important because they show that lowering sodium is best targeted at those with hypertension who also consume high sodium diets.'

The NHS advises adults in the UK eat no more than 6g of salt each day - around one teaspoon.

 It is with disbelief that we should read such bad science published in The Lancet. The evidence supporting global actions for a moderate reduction in salt consumption to prevent cardiovascular disease is strong and such studies should not overturn the concerted public health action to reduce salt intake globally
Professor Francesco Cappuccio, of the WHO and University of Warwick 

In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Americans consume less than 2,300 miligrams a day. That comes in the face of evidence, suggesting the average American consumes 3,400mg each day.

Meanwhile, in Canada, typical sodium intake is between 3.5 and 4g per day.

However, some guidelines have suggested that the entire population lower their salt intake to below 2.3g a day - a level that fewer than five per cent of Canadians and people around the world consume.

In the past, some research has shown that low-salt diets, compared to average intake, is linked to increased cardiovascular risk and mortality, even though low sodium intake is linked to lower blood pressure.

This new study shows that the risks linked with low-sodium intake - classified as less than three grams a day - are consistent regardless of a patient's blood pressure.

Further, the findings show that while there is a limit below which sodium intake may be unsafe, the harm associated with high sodium consumption appears to be confined to only those with hypertension.

Only about 10 per cent of the population in the global study had both hypertension and high sodium consumption - defined as greater than six grams per day.

The study, published in the reputable Lancet journal, has garnered strong reaction, with one expert declaring his 'disbelief', while others are critical of the study's methods, and calling its findings into question. There exists a vast body of scientific research suggesting eating a high-salt diet increases a person's risk of cardiovascular disease

The study, published in the reputable Lancet journal, has garnered strong reaction, with one expert declaring his 'disbelief', while others are critical of the study's methods, and calling its findings into question. There exists a vast body of scientific research suggesting eating a high-salt diet increases a person's risk of cardiovascular disease

Dr Mente said that this suggests that the majority of individuals in Canada and most countries are consuming the right amount of salt.

He added that targeted salt reduction in those who are most susceptible because of hypertension and high salt consumption may be preferable to a population-wide approach to reducing sodium intake in most countries except those where the average sodium intake is very high, such as parts of central Asia or China.

SALT GUIDELINES 

The World Health Organization notes most people consume too much salt - on average nine to 12 grams per day - around twice the recommended maximum level of intake.

The WHO states: 'Salt intake of less than five grams per day for adults helps to reduce blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and coronary heart attack.'

Furthermore, WHO member states have agreed to reduce the global population's intake of salt by a relative 30 per cent by 2025.

- In the UK, the NHS advises adults in the UK eat no more than 6g of salt each day - around one teaspoon

- In the US, the CDC recommends Americans consume less than 2,300 miligrams a day

- in Canada, typical sodium intake is between 3.5 and 4g per day. Some guidelines have suggested that the entire population lower their salt intake to below 2.3g a day - a level that fewer than five per cent of Canadians and people around the world consume

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He added that what is now generally recommended as a healthy daily ceiling for sodium consumption appears to be set too low, regardless of a person's blood pressure level.

'Low sodium intake reduces blood pressure modestly, compared to average intake, but low sodium intake also has other effects, including adverse elevations of certain hormones which may outweigh any benefits,' Dr Mente said.

'The key question is not whether blood pressure is lower with very low salt intake, instead it is whether it improves health.'

Dr Martin O'Donnell, a co-author on the study and an associate clinical professor at McMaster University and National University of Ireland Galway, said: 'This study adds to our understanding of the relationship between salt intake and health, and questions the appropriateness of current guidelines that recommend low sodium intake in the entire population.'

'An approach that recommends salt in moderation, particularly focused on those with hypertension, appears more in-line with current evidence.'

Blasting the results, Professor Francesco Cappuccio, head of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nutrition, and of the Unviersity of Warwick, condemned the study as 'bad science'.

He critizied the metholody used, in particular the fact researchers assessed salt intake by using early morning urine tests, and extrapolated the results over 24 hours using an 'inadequate equation'.

Experts argue this study should not overturn concerted public health action to reduce salt intake, to help protect against heart disease, heart attack and stroke
High-salt diets can increase the risk of stroke

Experts argue this study should not overturn concerted public health action to reduce salt intake, to help protect against heart disease, heart attack and stroke (illustrated left and right, respectively)

He said: 'It is with disbelief that we should read such bad science published in The Lancet.

'The evidence supporting global actions for a moderate reduction in salt consumption to prevent cardiovascular disease is strong and such studies should not overturn the concerted public health action to reduce salt intake globally.'

His scathing assessment was augmented by other experts' criticism of the researchers' methods.

Professor Graham MacGregor, at Queen Mary University and chairman of World Action On Salt, said: 'The evidence for salt causing high blood pressure and that reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure and prevents strokes and heart attacks, is overwhelming.

'This current study, because of the weakness of the design, does not in any way overturn public health messages to reduce salt intake, both in the UK and worldwide.' 

The study was funded from more than 50 sources, including the PHRI, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

 

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