January 24/Washington/GlobeNewswire -- The Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) has warned the FDA that plans for salt restriction pose a health threat to Americans of all ages. The Weston A. Price Foundation is a non-profit nutrition education foundation dedicated to accurate scientific information about diet and health. Last year, WAPF led the criticism of the USDA 2010 dietary guidelines.

WAPF noted that by entitling its document "Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption," the FDA has signaled it has already decided that Americans' sodium consumption should be reduced. However, the report contends neither history nor the scientific evidence support this approach.

"A study from 1991 indicates that people need about one and one-half teaspoons of salt per day," says Sally Fallon Morell, president of the WAPF. "Anything less triggers a cascade of hormones to recuperate sodium from the waste stream, hormones that make people vulnerable to heart disease and kidney problems. This is proven biochemistry. Yet, FDA as well as USDA want to mandate drastically restricted sodium consumption at about one-half teaspoon per day."

WAPF testimony noted that salt plays a critical role in body physiology and brain function. In the elderly, lack of salt is associated with increased hip fractures and cognitive decline; low salt diets in growing children predisposes to poor neurological development.

Proposals to restrict salt cite benefits to hypertension, but only 30% of the population experiences a slight reduction in blood pressure on a salt restricted diet, while 70% show no benefit.

"These statistics don't justify a population-wide policy of salt reduction," says Fallon Morell.

Recent studies show a correlation of salt restriction with increased heart failure and with insulin resistance leading to diabetes. Studies show that even modest reductions in salt cause an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher incidence of inflammatory markers and altered lipoproteins are also found by researchers evaluating those on salt reduced diets. These factors are precursors to metabolic syndrome, which predicts heart problems and diabetes.

Both sodium and chloride, the components of salt, are needed for digestion. These elements form the basis of cellular metabolism and our only source of adequate intake is salt.

The Foundation also cautions the FDA that salt reductions will increase food safety risks. Salt is a traditional food preservation medium with an excellent track record. Artisan cheeses, preserved meats like salami and traditional pickled foods like sauerkraut require salt to prevent contamination by pathogens.

"Our biggest concern is that with FDA dictates against salt, manufacturers will add imitation salt flavors . . . to processed foods," says Fallon Morell. "Marketed as a food, so it does not require testing, and added in amounts so small that is does not need to be labeled, this neurotropic compound can interfere with our natural taste for salt, leading to severe deficiencies. Or, people will become obese as they eat more and more, trying to satisfy the body's need for salt."

From the January 25, 2012, Prepared Foods' Daily News.