Supplement
Salt is sodium chloride, a mineral compound whose sodium helps balance fluids and carry nerve and muscle signals. People with cystic fibrosis mainly look to it to replace salt lost in sweat, and the evidence for that use is strong. Trials found higher intake raised blood pressure, especially in salt-sensitive people, though large studies linked very low intake to worse heart outcomes too.
Sources: PMID 19373956; PMID 15516908
- Updated
- How we grade
- 10 studies cited
- Best evidence
- Grade A
- Conditions studied
- 2
- Outcomes
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 1110
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Pressure Multiple large RCTs including the DASH-Sodium trial demonstrate a clear dose-response relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure elevation, particularly in salt-sensitive individuals. Mechanistic studies in Nature Medicine identify the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX1) in vascular smooth muscle as a key mediator of salt-sensitive hypertension. | Changes; see studies | Moderate effect | 7 studies | 5,000 people | ||
Studies that measured blood pressure
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| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Disease Risk Large epidemiological studies and RCTs associate high sodium intake (>5g/day) with increased cardiovascular events and mortality. However, the relationship appears J-shaped, with very low sodium intake (<3g/day) also associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, suggesting an optimal range. | Worsens (the measure goes up) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | 50,000 people | ||
Studies that measured cardiovascular disease risk | ||||||
General
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric Cancer Risk Epidemiological studies across 65 Chinese counties associate high salt intake with increased digestive cancer mortality. In Mongolian gerbils, high dietary salt independently induces atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia, and synergistically worsens H. pylori-induced precancerous gastric lesions. | Worsens (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 2 studies | 10,000 people | ||
Studies that measured gastric cancer risk | ||||||
Key findings
- Blood PressureChanges; see studies
- Cardiovascular Disease RiskWorsens (the measure goes up)
- Gastric Cancer RiskWorsens (the measure goes up)
Safety notes in the studies
- However, the relationship appears J-shaped, with very low sodium intake (<3g/day) also associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, suggesting an optimal range.
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Third-party tested Salt products, in the forms the graded studies used where we can match them.
- Grade A
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Studies cited
10 studies from PubMed
- How much salt do adults consume in climate vulnerable coastal Bangladesh?
- Sodium alginate oligosaccharides attenuate hypertension and associated kidney damage in Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed a high-salt diet.
- Sea salt (for Wendy).
- My blood pressure is high. Should I always use Kosher or sea salt instead of regular table salt?
- [Na+/Ca2+ exchanger(NCX1) and salt-sensitive hypertension].
- I've heard that sea salt is better for you than table salt. Is this true?
- Salt-sensitive hypertension is triggered by Ca2+ entry via Na+/Ca2+ exchanger type-1 in vascular smooth muscle.
- Hypertension with a grain of salt.
- Helicobacter pylori infection and high dietary salt independently induce atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia in commercially available outbred Mongolian gerbils.
- Factor analysis of digestive cancer mortality and food consumption in 65 Chinese counties.