Although the study was conducted in an at-risk population being treated for congestive heart failure (CHF) and, therefore, not directly comparable to healthy populations, yet another study has found reduced-sodium diets creating health risks.
A study by an Italian research team led by Salvatore Paterna and Pietro Di Pasquale on "Normal-sodium diet compared with low-sodium diet in compensated congestive heart failure " in the October issue of Clinical Science asks: "Is sodium an old enemy or a new friend?"
Friend, according to the data. Lowering dietary sodium stimulated plasma renin activity (PRA) and aldosterone production.
The normal-sodium group had a significant reduction, P less than 0.05, in readmissions. BNP values were lower in the normal-sodium group compared with the low sodium group (685±255 compared with 425±125 pg/ml respectively; P
When PRA and aldosterone levels are high, multiple studies have shown subjects have significantly higher incidence of heart attacks and cardiovascular mortality.
Thus, the study concluded: "a normal-sodium diet improves outcome, and sodium depletion has detrimental renal and neurohormonal effects with worse clinical outcome in compensated CHF patients."
