Over the course of the European-based study, people with the lowest salt intake had the highest rate of death from heart disease. Details of the study were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

According to study author Dr. Jan Staessen of the University of Leuven in Belgium, the new findings “certainly do not support the current recommendation to lower salt intake in the general population.” In fact, the U.S. guidelines for salt intake recommend consumption of under 2,300mg daily, while those at greater risk for high blood pressure or heart disease are advised to restrict their consumption to less than 1,500mg per day. However, Staessen pointed out that existing guidelines for salt intake are based on results from short-term studies of volunteers who either followed a diet low in salt or high in salt as assigned by researchers.

Although prior studies have suggested that a lower salt intake helps to keep blood pressure in check, it remains unknown as to whether restricting salt consumption provides for better overall heart health in the broader population.

Although prior studies have suggested that a lower salt intake helps to keep blood pressure in check, it remains unknown as to whether restricting salt consumption provides for better overall heart health in the broader population.

For their analysis, the researchers examined data from two separate studies involving a total of nearly 3,700 Europeans having an average age of 40, among whom sodium was measured through urine samples taken at the beginning and end of the studies. Among the participants, none had heart disease, while two-thirds had normal blood pressure when the study began. The subjects were divided into three groups, including those with the highest and lowest salt intakes, and those with average intake. The participants were followed for an average of eight years, during which time the researchers tracked the number who were diagnosed with heart disease, and hypertension.

Findings revealed that those having the lowest levels of sodium, an average of about 2,500mg, a little more than one teaspoon daily, gained no benefit in reduction of risk against development of high blood pressure than those who had the highest levels of sodium -- an average of nearly 6,000mg per day. In fact, heart disease deaths were reduced with higher sodium intake, as 50 deaths occurred among the one-third of the participants having the lowest sodium intakes, while there were only 24 deaths among those with average intakes, and just 10 deaths occurred among those with the highest sodium intakes.

In addition, although the top number measurement of blood pressure (systolic) was slightly higher in participants with the highest salt intakes, the amount was not enough to place their readings in the high blood pressure range. No difference in the risk for developing heart disease and hypertension was noted among the three groups, and only about one in four participants was diagnosed with hypertension by the end of the study period.

Staessen said, while a reduction in salt intake is advisable for people diagnosed with hypertension or those who have experienced heart problems, the study found no evidence that the amount of salt intake is linked to the onset of these medical conditions. He stated, “It’s clear that one should be very careful in advocating generalized reduction in sodium intake in the population at large.” He added, “There might be some benefits, but there might also be some adverse effects.” However, the study authors did caution that their analysis included only white Europeans. Therefore, the results may not translate to people of other ethnicities.

From the May 5, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News.