SALT AND BLOOD-PRESSURE REVISITED

Modern attempts to link intake of salt with population blood pressure (BP) show striking similarity to early 19th century attitudes which at tributed human disease and premature death to inappropriate diet. Unde r these circumstances there is a danger that conviction of the truth o f a hypothesis may lead to selection of evidence. A pooled meta-analys is of rigorously conducted studies of the effect of salt restriction o n Up has been carried out. This indicates small but real effects in hy pertensive patients although the degree of heterogeneity cannot be ass essed. The effect in normotensive subjects is minimal and throws doubt on the value of general reduction in salt intake in lowering populati on BP.