Hygiena 2015, 60(4):149-154 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1373

Sodium and Its Impact on Health

Marie Šubrtová, Halina Matějová

Masarykova univerzita, Lékařská fakulta, Ústav ochrany a podpory zdraví, Brno

Excessive sodium intake is associated with many health complications, especially hypertension. Data on sodium intake show too high consumption in many countries around the world. In many cases sodium intake exceeds recommendation for adults, which is 2 g sodium/day. Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Many studies have confirmed that dietary sodium reduction reduces blood pressure (BP). BP reduction was less significant in normotensive individuals than in individuals with hypertension. Nevertheless, there is a consensus that even a moderate decreasing in sodium intake is likely to have a beneficial impact on public health. Estimates suggest that a reduction of 3 g of daily sodium intake would reduce ischemic heart disease by 10% and strokes by 13%. BP response to change in dietary sodium varies widely among individuals. Significant BP reduction is evident in some patients following decreased sodium intake. This heterogeneity led to a concept of salt sensitivity. It is more common among the elderly and African-Americans. Salt sensitivity is determined genetically. Another disease associated with sodium intake is kidney disease. Studies have confirmed the effect of reducing sodium intake on proteinuria and albuminuria. Sodium intake can affect left ventricular hypertrophy but it is impossible to prove whether it is independent of blood pressure. Salt and salted foods have been identified as a probable risk factor of stomach cancer. High salt intake can induce gastric atrophy and affect the other stages of pathogenesis. Increased consumption of sodium leads also to increased urinary calcium excretion. Relationship between sodium intake and other indicators like bone biomarkers or fractures is unclear. Some older studies suggest that dietary sodium can be related to asthma. Authors of the latest systematic review have concluded, that there is no evidence that reduction of sodium intake improves asthma control. Despite the number of completed studies, the question of sodium intake is still controversial. There is a plethora of unclear causal relationships. Regardless of these uncertainties, it seems that sodium intake reduction is beneficial for the population.

Keywords: sodium, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, renal diseases, tumours

Received: January 2015; Accepted: August 20, 2015; Published: December 1, 2015  Show citation