DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF SALT INTAKE OTHER THAN EFFECTS ON BLOOD-PRESSURE

1. Salt intake is not only known to play an important role in determin ing blood pressure (BP) but has been shown to have other deleterious e ffects independent of BP. 2. Epidemiological and animal studies have p rovided evidence that salt intake may have an adverse effect on stroke mortality independent of BP. 3. Significant correlation between sodiu m excretion (as a measure of salt intake) and left ventricular (LV) hy pertrophy has been shown in many clinical studies, Salt restriction ha s also been found to produce a significant reduction in LV mass. 4. In animal studies, salt restriction in uninephrectomized spontaneously h ypertensive rats retarded renal glomerular injury and suppressed compe nsatory growth independent of hypertension. Moreover, a high sodium di et accelerated cerebral arterial disease even when no increases in BP could be detected. 5. Epidemiological data have shown an association b etween asthma mortality and regional purchases of table salt. Furtherm ore, dietary salt restriction in asthmatic patients results in improve ment of symptomatology with lower consumption of bronchodilators. 6. P atients with essential hypertension are known to have increased urinar y calcium excretion, and hypertension may be one factor that may incre ase the likelihood of osteoporosis, High salt intake is also associate d with increased hydroxyproline excretion indicating increased resorpt ion of bone. Sodium restriction reduces calcium excretion and may redu ce bone demineralization and hip fractures in a similar manner to that seen with diuretics.