More of Us Should Be Cutting Back on Salt

June Chen, MD

In 2005, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommended that adults should limit their daily sodium intake to not more than 2300 mg (or, about 1 teaspoon of salt). They also recommended that all people with high blood pressure, all middle-aged and older adults, and all blacks should consume no more than 1500 mg of sodium per day. Though this lower sodium recommendation was published 4 years ago, it was not known how many people were affected. Now, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports in the March 27, 2009 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that this lower sodium recommendation was applicable to over 69% of US adults.

In 2005-2006, an estimated 29% of US adults had hypertension and another 28% had pre-hypertension. It is well-known that a higher consumption of sodium can increase the risk for high blood pressure, and the main source of sodium in food is salt. Sodium reduction is recommended for all people with hypertension, and it is also considered the first line of intervention for people with pre-hypertension. From 2005 to 2006, the estimated average daily intake of sodium for US adults was over 3400 mg, far more than the recommended daily intake for the general population and more than double the recommended daily intake for people with hypertension. As so many US adults are affected by this lower sodium recommendation, both patients and their healthcare providers are reminded that to cut down on salt.

Source
MMWR. 2009;58:281;283.