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Cut salt intake, warn experts

26 November 2009

Millions of people eat more than twice the recommended daily amount of salt, putting themselves at a greater risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Consider your diet and work out if you are eating too much salt. Cut back if you need to.

Dr Paula Franklin, Bupa's director of healthcare development

European researchers looked at data from 13 studies carried out over the last 12 years which linked salt intake with stroke and cardiovascular disease. These included more than 170,000 adults who had over 10,000 incidents of stroke or cardiovascular disease.

The studies used different methods to measure salt levels such as food questionnaires and urine sampling. The participants in the studies were from six different countries (the US, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands, Scotland and Taiwan).

The researchers already knew that salt is linked to stroke and cardiovascular disease, but were trying to find out if the amount of salt had an effect.

They found the higher the amount of salt, the greater the risk of dying from stroke or cardiovascular disease. High salt intake increased risk regardless of age, ethnicity or gender.

The researchers suggest that if everyone consumed 5g less of salt each day it could prevent over a million stroke deaths and almost three million deaths from cardiovascular disease worldwide.

People who live in Western countries eat about 10g of salt each day. In Eastern European and Asian countries this figure is even higher. Although daily recommendations vary between countries, the World Health Organization advises a maximum of 5g of salt each day.

Salt intake may even have been underestimated in the studies and worldwide salt consumption may be even higher. Levels of salt in urine go up and down during the day and only one daily measurement of urine was taken. This could have affected the results because less salt may have been in the sample than at other times of the day.

Bupa's director of healthcare development, Dr Paula Franklin, said:

"This study reinforces what we already know - that too much salt in your diet increases your risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. What is new is the finding that increasing how much salt you have in your diet may increase your likelihood of having a stroke or developing cardiovascular disease.

"Consider your diet and work out if you are eating too much salt. Cut back if you need to by choosing foods and drinks containing low amounts of salt. Look at labels on food packaging and don't add salt when cooking."

Key facts
  • A stroke occurs if blood doesn't get to the brain. This can happen when blood vessels to the brain become blocked or burst. Stroke can cause brain damage or death if not treated quickly.
  • More than 5.5 million deaths worldwide are caused by stroke each year.
  • Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and blood vessels.
  • Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in people over 60 around the world.
  • In people aged 15 to 59, cardiovascular disease is the second most common cause of death.
  • About 17.5 million deaths from cardiovascular disease occur each year.
  • UK government guidelines recommend limiting salt intake to 6g per day.

Related information

Read the study

Salt intake, stroke and cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of prospective studies doi:10.1136/bmj.b4567

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