Sodium helps the body perform a number of biological functions (such as muscle flexibility or fluid balance), so a little salt in our diet can be healthy, but taking too much salt is harmful to our cardiovascular system. Now, a study developed by researchers at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, Finland, suggests that it may even double our risk of heart failure.
“High salt (sodium chloride) intake is one of the main causes of high blood pressure and an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke,” clarifies Pekka Jousilahti, leader of the work.
In fact, due to the increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease associated with high sodium intake, the American Heart Association recommends reducing your daily dietary sodium intake to less than 1,500 milligrams.
“In addition to coronary heart disease and stroke, heart failure is one of the main cardiovascular diseases in Europe and worldwide, but the role of high salt intake in its development is unknown,” explains Jousilahti.
How to count the salt that we take individually? It is the basic problem for scientists who want to monitor the amount of salt ingested.
To solve this methodological problem, the researchers used the so-called “24-hour sodium excretion” method, considered the most accurate technique for assessing salt intake in an individual.
They examined available data from the North Karelia Salt Study and the FINRISK National Study (between 1979 and 2002). The scientists randomly selected 4,630 men and women between the ages of 25 and 64 at the time of enrollment in the experiment. The clinical follow-up lasted for almost 12 years.
The participants completed a questionnaire about their health habits; His height, blood pressure, and BMI were also measured. Several 24-hour blood and urine samples were drawn.
During the study, 121 men and women had heart failure.
After adjusting for potential confounders, the researchers found that “high salt intake increases the risk of heart failure palpably.”
“ People who consumed more than 13.7 grams of salt per day had a two-fold higher risk of heart failure compared to those who consumed less than 6.8 grams. This salt-related increase in risk of heart failure was independent of blood pressure, “says Jousilahti.
“The World Health Organization recommends a maximum of 5 grams per day and the physiological need is 2 to 3 grams per day,” continues Jousilahti.
To give us an idea, a teaspoon of salt contains approximately 5.8 grams.
“ The heart does not like salt. However, studies in larger, pooled population cohorts are needed to make more detailed estimates of the risk of heart failure associated with salt consumption,” concludes Jousilahti.
Reference: Salt intake and the risk of heart failure. Pekka JOUSILAHTI (Helsinki, Finland) European Heart Journal (2017) 38 (Supplement), 240. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress Barcelona.
