SALT AND HEALTH: TIME TO ACT

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the world and raised blood pressure (BP) from a systolic BP above 115mm Hg is one of the most important direct causes, accounting for more than 60% of all strokes and approximately 50% of all heart disease. The rise in BP is due to excess of salt in our diet, very little potassium, lack of exercise and obesity. The evidence demonstrating salt excess as a leading cause of elevated BP is very strong, coming from epidemiology, migration, intervention, treatment trials and animal and genetic studies. Recent experimental studies have shown that dietary salt excess also promotes profound structural and functional alterations of the heart, aorta and large vessels and kidneys Based on this evidence many governments and the WHO have recommended a reduction in salt intake from the current worldwide intake of 10 to 15 gm/day to a maximum of 5 to 6 gm/day.