Long-term effects of salt restriction on cardiovascular diseases

Follow-up of adults who participated in the Trials of Hypertension Prevention (TOHP I and II) studies showed that a reduction in salt intake could reduce the risk of cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, the need for revascularization of the heart, death associated with these conditions).

Let’s separate the effect of a low salt diet on disease from the risk of dying.

Here are the details.

• More than 3000 adults with high-normal diastolic blood pressure were randomly assigned to sodium reduction or control for 18 to 48 months.

And the results?

• There was a significant 25% reduction of cardiovascular disease in adults following low sodium restriction vs the control group.
• The reduction was 30% when the results were adjusted for potential confounding factors.
• However, the risk for mortality between the groups did not differ.

The bottom line.
A low sodium diet in adults with high normal blood pressure can reduce cardiovascular events but not necessarily mortality.

4/27/07 22:43 JR