Research
Abstracts
Salt has been the focus at some high profile conferences. Available here are abstracts of some of the papers presented by experts.
The ‘Salt & Health Forum’ was held in Paris in summer 2007. The event was organised by EuSalt, the European association of salt producers, with the objective of reviewing the relationship between salt consumption and health.
The list of academics lining up to defend salt at the conference, in May 2007, included four academics who demonstrated that salt is vital for us by each covering a different aspect of its importance. Click on the names below to read abstracts of the lectures.
Dr David A. McCarron (USA) – Importance of Nutrient Intake on Blood Pressure, Salt Sensitivity, and Health Outcomes.
Professor Jens Titze (Germany) – Response of the body to changes in salt intake.
Professor Tilman B. Drüeke (France) – Man needs salt to survive.
Professor Niels Graudal (Denmark) – Effect of salt intake on blood pressure and cardiovascular outcome: critical evaluation of reported trials and meta-analyses.
Papers
Fatal and nonfatal Outcomes, Incidence of Hypertension, and Blood Pressure Changes in Relation to Urinary Sodium Excretion
Staessen et al – May 2011
Lower sodium excretion was associated with higher CVD mortality
JAMA. 2011;305(17):1777-1785.doi:10.1001/jama.2011.574Medical evidence relating to salt is reviewed in this study of 462 research papers Jay Walker, Alastair David MacKenzie, Joel Dunning, Autumn 2007
This study addressed the question of whether restricting dietary salt intake would provide protection from adverse cardiovascular events or mortality. Using the 462 papers, of which 14 were identified as representing the best evidence on the subject, the review concluded that there was no conclusive proof of a link between salt and heart attacks and strokes due to the lack of adequately powered randomised trials or observational studies conducted with sufficient rigour.
Low mineral intake is associated with high systolic blood pressure in the third and fourth National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
AJH Townsend et al
American Journal of Hypertension, Feb 05
An anlaysis of survey data on blood pressure and nutrient intake from more than 20,000 adults in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in the US over the past 20 years. The study confirms that it is mineral deficiency rather than sodium intake that is the main influencer in high blood pressure.
The Sweating Response of Elite Professional Soccer Players to Training in the Heat
Shirreffs SM et al
International Journal of Sports Medicine, April 2005
A team of sports scientists from Loughborough University have measured the sweat rate of professional football players at such clubs as Real Madrid and Manchester United and the amout of sodium and other electrolytes that they lose during training sessions.
House of Commons Health Committee report on obesity
27 May 04
This report makes a number of recommendations about how the government, schools and food manufacturers can work together to counter the rising problem of obesity in the UK.
Disorders of water and sodium metabolism in older patients
I. Fusgen
European Journal of Geriatrics, March 2004
This research was led by Professor Fusgen from the Department of Geriatrics at the University of Witten-Herdecke in Germany. The findings include numbers of older people suffering from sub-acute sodium deficiency.
National Diet and Nutrition Survey
Food Standards Agency
Various volumes: 2002-2004
This programme of surveys was carried out on a sample of adults and children from the age of four, to gather information about the nutritional status of the British population.
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Population advice on salt restriction: the social issues
Swales J
2000
This article explores the scientific basis for calls for population advice on salt reduction.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics
The Division of Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys
1999 – 2004
The first of three surveys carried out by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, known as NHANES 1. Over 20,000 people were enrolled people during the years 1971 to 1975, their serum uric acid levels measured and information taken on their medical history. Their medical records and death certificates were collected over the next 16 years and attention was focused on the total numbers of deaths, as well as those due to heart and blood vessel disease.
Effect of Reduced Dietary Sodium on Blood Pressure
Julian Midgley et al
Journal of the American Medical Association
May 1996
A paper with evidence based on statistical analyses of published human studies concerning the effect of changes in dietary sodium on blood pressure.
Intersalt: an International Study of Electrolyte Excretion and Blood Pressure
Intersalt Cooperative Research Group
British Medical Journal
July 30 1988
Have a look at the abstract of this independent study, carried out at 52 medical centres around the world, which looked at the sodium excretion and blood pressure of more than 10,000 people. The analysis of the data was questioned by many – read responses from Dr James Le Fanu and Richard Hanneman.
Expert Opinion
There is strong evidence to support salt as a vital nutrient to our bodies and that the recent government campaign aimed at reducing our salt intake could be too generalised.
The Salt Association is working with some leading nutritionists and expert academics to provide reputable research and opinion on salt related matters to help balance the debate.
Our Editorial Advisory Board is here to help educate people on the importance of salt in our diets.
Professor Tony Heagerty
We put several key questions to Professor Tony Heagerty, who is a UK expert on hypertension. Professor Heagerty is a professor of medicine at the University of Manchester and a consultant physician on the staff of the Manchester Royal Infirmary. He is a former president of the European Society of Hypertension.
Dr David McCarron
Dr David McCarron is one of the world’s leading experts on the effects of nutrition on hypertension. He has been involved with an analysis of survey data on blood pressure and nutrient intake from more than 20,000 adults in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys in the US over the past 20 years. It confirms that it is mineral deficiency rather than sodium intake that is the main influencer in high blood pressure.
Dr McCarron presented these findings at a recent London nutrition conference, where he also called for a health outcomes study to determine whether salt intake had any long-term effect on our health.
Features
Our features area provides an opportunity to browse what others have written on the salt and health issue. We are indebted to the authors below, who have each given their permission. Their copyright is acknowledged.
QED – Take it with a Pinch of Salt
Robert Matthews investigates the debate over high-salt diets
Unsound Science?
Dr James Le Fanu says that the Government-funded Sid the Slug campaign against salt can be faulted on three grounds.
In Sickness and In Health
Dr James Le Fanu says that the Government-funded Sid the Slug campaign against salt can be faulted on three grounds.
A SAD occasion
Dr James Le Fanu says that the Government-funded Sid the Slug campaign against salt can be faulted on three grounds.
Below are links to articles on external websites
- Why Files, Salt and other wounds.