Reducing Salt Intake Lowers Blood Pressure and Is Associated with Lower Cardiovascular-Related Mortality

Reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure (BP). However, whether reducing salt intake also lowers cardiovascular (CV) risk is unclear. Results of two recent meta-analyses clarify the effects of lower salt intake on BP and adverse CV outcomes.

One meta-analysis involved 34 randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) of ≥4 weeks' duration (3230 adults; median age, 50) in which low salt intake was compared with usual salt intake. A mean daily reduction in urinary sodium of 75 mmol (equivalent to a 4.4 g/day reduction in salt intake) was associated with significantly lower mean systolic and diastolic BPs (by 4.2 mm Hg and 2.1 mm Hg, respectively); in patients with hypertension, the differences were 5.4 mm Hg and 2.8 mm Hg. Lower salt intake also was a…