Beware cutting back on salt... it could even give you a heart attack

FOR years doctors have been telling us to avoid a diet which is high in salt.

It has been blamed for everything from strokes to obesity and heart attacks.

The constant warnings have caused the health conscious among us to cut right back on our daily intake.

But now it seems that cutting back too much could do more harm than good.

In fact, scientists have found that consuming less than three grams a day – half the recommended amount in the UK – might actually increase your chances of a heart attack or stroke.

Their study suggests the six grams suggested daily maximum may be too low, with current health advice seemingly only appropriate for those with high blood pressure.

The global analysis of more than 130,000 people found, there were more heart attacks, strokes and deaths among those whose intake was low than those eating an average amount.

Salt, or sodium, is vital for our bodies as it controls our fluid balance and is therefore necessary for preventing dehydration.

It is also essential for controlling the way our muscles and nerves work. In the intestines, salt helps the body to absorb chloride, amino acids, glucose and water.

A salt deficiency can cause higher levels of some hormones, resulting in potential health problems.

Epidemiologist Professor Andrew Mente, who led the study, said: ‘Low sodium intake reduces blood pressure modestly, compared to average intake, but low sodium intake also has other effects, including adverse elevations of certain hormones which may outweigh any benefits.

‘The key question is not whether blood pressure is lower with very low salt intake, instead it is whether it improves health.’

Professor Mente, of McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, said the current recommended healthy daily ceiling for sodium consumption appears to be set too low. Food companies in Britain and the rest of the world have been under increasing pressure to cut back on salt amid claims it causes high blood pressure which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Current average intake in the UK is around eight grams per adult per day, two more than the recommended limit.

The latest study across 49 countries looked specifically at whether the relationship between salt intake and death, heart disease and stroke differs among people with high and normal blood pressure.

It showed that the risks associ- ated with having less than three grams per day are consistent regardless of the patient’s blood pressure.

Professor Mente said that about 10 per cent of the population in the global study had both high blood pressure and high salt consumption, suggesting the majority of people are eating the right amount.

He said: ‘While our data highlights the importance of reducing high salt intake in people with hypertension, it does not support reducing salt intake to low levels.

‘ Our findings are important because they show that lowering sodium is best targeted at those with hypertension who also consume high sodium diets.’ Co author Dr Martin O’Donnell said: ‘This study adds to our understanding of the relationship between salt intake and health, and questions the appropriateness of current guidelines that recommend low sodium intake in the entire population.

‘An approach that recommends salt in moderation, particularly focused on those with hypertension, appears more in-line with current evidence.’