No Evidence That “Moderate” Reduction In Salt Intake Offers Health Benefits

A systematic review of the results of seven studies involving more than 6,000 participants found little evidence to conclude that a moderate reduction in salt intake cuts the risk of dying or experiencing cardiovascular disease, though there was evidence that it reduces blood pressure. The researchers said moderate reductions in salt intake in the studies were perhaps too little to have a significant health benefit. They acknowledged that they would be more comfortable drawing conclusions regarding clear health benefits if the pool of participants were at least triple the number they examined. Larger studies should be conducted “to get a full understanding of the benefits and risks of reducing salt intake," said British researcher Rod Taylor.