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Sodium and health: old myths and a controversy based on denial

Authors :
Francesco P. Cappuccio
Norm R. C. Campbell
Feng J. He
Michael F. Jacobson
Graham A. MacGregor
Elliott Antman
Lawrence J. Appel
JoAnne Arcand
Adriana Blanco-Metzler
Nancy R. Cook
Juliet R. Guichon
Mary R. L’Abbè
Daniel T. Lackland
Tim Lang
Rachael M. McLean
Marius Miglinas
Ian Mitchell
Frank M. Sacks
Peter S. Sever
Meir Stampfer
Pasquale Strazzullo
Wayne Sunman
Jacqui Webster
Paul K. Whelton
Walter Willett
Source :
Current nutrition reports, London : Springer Nature, 2022, vol. 11, iss. 2, p. 172-184, Current Nutrition Reports
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Purpose of Review The scientific consensus on which global health organizations base public health policies is that high sodium intake increases blood pressure (BP) in a linear fashion contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A moderate reduction in sodium intake to 2000 mg per day helps ensure that BP remains at a healthy level to reduce the burden of CVD. Recent Findings Yet, since as long ago as 1988, and more recently in eight articles published in the European Heart Journal in 2020 and 2021, some researchers have propagated a myth that reducing sodium does not consistently reduce CVD but rather that lower sodium might increase the risk of CVD. These claims are not well-founded and support some food and beverage industry’s vested interests in the use of excessive amounts of salt to preserve food, enhance taste, and increase thirst. Nevertheless, some researchers, often with funding from the food industry, continue to publish such claims without addressing the numerous objections. This article analyzes the eight articles as a case study, summarizes misleading claims, their objections, and it offers possible reasons for such claims. Summary Our study calls upon journal editors to ensure that unfounded claims about sodium intake be rigorously challenged by independent reviewers before publication; to avoid editorial writers who have been co-authors with the subject paper’s authors; to require statements of conflict of interest; and to ensure that their pages are used only by those who seek to advance knowledge by engaging in the scientific method and its collegial pursuit. The public interest in the prevention and treatment of disease requires no less.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
21613311
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Current nutrition reports, London : Springer Nature, 2022, vol. 11, iss. 2, p. 172-184, Current Nutrition Reports
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....b1172c5a2fd1c0e014b03505cf792b6b