High salt intake boosts stroke risk

By David Liu

A new study suggests that high intake of salt or chemically known as sodium chloride boosts risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease.

The study published on Nov 24, 2009 in the British Medical Journal found that higher salt intake was associated with 23 percent higher risk of stroke, and 14 percent of cardiovascular disease.

Strazzullo P and colleagues from Federico II University of Naples Medical School in Naples, Italy meta-analyze data from prospective studies on salt intake and stroke or cardiovascular disease published between 1966 and 2008 and found the association.

For the review, they identified 13 studies with 19 independent cohort samples of 177,025 participants who were followed up for 3.5 to 19 years and outcome of stroke and total cardiovascular disease. During the follow-up, over 11,000 vascular events were recorded.

The researchers said "Because of imprecision in measurement of salt intake, these effect sizes are likely to be underestimated. These results support the role of a substantial population reduction in salt intake for the prevention of cardiovascular disease."

A health observer said that it is not news that higher intake of salt may have a negative impact on risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. But he said food consumers have nothing to panic about. Salt as an element is a nutrient that we need for many physiological function in humans.