High salt intake is already linked to high blood pressure, which is a potent risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Now researchers at the University of Naples, Italy, and the University of Warwick, UK, have found a direct relationship between high salt intake and stroke and heart disease. They reviewed studies covering over 170,000 people to reach this conclusion on the health hazards of high salt intake. A difference of 5 grams a day in intake means a 23% difference in stroke rate and 17% difference in heart disease rates.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that salt intake should be no more than 5 grams a day, which is about a teaspoon. In reality, it is hard to know what your salt intake is, because it can be ‘hidden’ in processed and restaurant foods. It is likely that salt intake is about 10 grams a day in Western countries and maybe even more in Asia and Eastern Europe.

The researchers on this study say that reducing salt intake by 5 grams a day – which would likely only get us to the WHO upper limit – could save one and a quarter million deaths from stroke and three million deaths from heart disease worldwide each year. In the UK, the food industry has been working with government and public health organisations on a voluntary basis to get amounts of salt in foods down. This has led to about a 10% reduction in the population’s salt intake. However, salt intake in the UK is still too high, at an estimated 8.6 grams a day, when the UK government recommends a maximum salt intake of 6 grams a day. Note this is a bit higher than the WHO figure. So it may be time to get rid of even more of that hidden salt in foods. Meanwhile, people should stay vigilant on their salt intake, checking food labels and trying to avoid adding salt at the table.
 

Source:

Strazzullo et al Salt intake, stroke, and cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of prospective studies BMJ Online First 25th November 2009 doi10.1136/bmj.b4567

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