Sodium Excretion of >7 g or <3 g Daily Is Associated with Elevated Cardiovascular Morbidity

The WHO recommends daily sodium intake of less than 2 g, based on relatively short trials in which the effect of sodium intake on blood pressure was assessed. In this study, researchers analyzed data for 28,880 patients in two international clinical trials of an angiotensin-receptor blocker; most patients (mean age, 67; 70% men) had histories of myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, or diabetes. People with congestive heart failure (CHF), decreased renal function, or uncontrolled hypertension were excluded. Mean daily sodium excretion (a surrogate for sodium intake) was 4.77 g, and daily potassium excretion was 2.19 g.

At 5 years, a composite outcome of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalization for C…