DIETARY SALT INTAKE: HISTORY, ASSESSMENT, AND BENEFIT IN HYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT

Abstract

<p>ABSTRACT<br />Multiple lines of investigation including genetic, epidemiological, and interventional studies have demonstrated consistently a positive relationship<br />between salt intake, blood pressure (BP) increment, and cardiovascular consequences. In addition, it has been documented that excessive salt intake<br />can be attributed to various health complications such as asthma, osteoporosis, obesity, and gastric cancer. On the contrary, a reduction in salt intake<br />has been shown to reduce BP and improve health outcomes, although the evidence is not completely unequivocal. Despite this discrepancy, a lowsodium<br />diet<br />is widely<br />being recommended<br />to<br />all hypertensive<br />patients in<br />particular,<br />as evidence<br />against<br />its efficacy in<br />conjunction with optimum<br />hypertensive<br />treatment<br />is<br />well<br />established.<br />Determination<br />of<br />salt<br />intake<br />among hypertensive<br />patients is important<br />since dietary<br />salt<br />restriction<br />had</p><p>been<br />proven<br />to<br />improve<br />BP control<br />in conjunction with optimum pharmacological management.<br />Various<br />methods<br />have<br />been used to<br />estimate<br />sodium<br />intake<br />includes 24-hrs<br />urinary<br />sodium,<br />overnight<br />urinary sodium,<br />spot<br />urinary sodium/creatinine<br />ratio,<br />and dietary survey<br />methods. Reducing</p><p>population<br />salt<br />intake<br />has been proven<br />to<br />be beneficial, preventing<br />millions<br />of<br />deaths from<br />cardiovascular<br />disease<br />and<br />stroke,<br />and reducing<br />the burden</p><p>on<br />health<br />services.<br />Many<br />individual<br />countries around<br />the globe<br />have<br />already<br />taken<br />action against<br />reducing<br />population<br />salt<br />intake.<br />These strategies</p><p>were<br />either led by<br />government,<br />nongovernment<br />organizations,<br />or industry.<br />Keywords: Dietary sodium, Salt, Hypertension, Sodium measurement, Cost-effectiveness.</p>