Aldosterone: Unlocking our understanding of cardiovascular risk

Morton Satin
Salt Institute
Salt and Health newsletter
Summer 2008
Elevated blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. Populations with lower blood pressure have lower cardiovascular mortality. But blood pressure is a less powerful risk factor than the lesser-known hormone aldosterone. Low-salt diets trigger production of aldosterone which causes cardiovascular injury without raising blood pressure. Studies in Japan and Israel show that consumption of the U.S.-recommended 2,300 mg/day sodium diet provides an insufficient amount of salt to block the production of aldosterone.