According to the Salt Institute, a meta-analysis of more than 160 studies published November 9 in the American Journal of Hypertension confirms what it has been warning for years: Low-sodium diets trigger a negative chain reaction in the body that increases the risk of diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and heart disease, the Institute said, adding that contrary to the conventional wisdom of federal agencies overseeing nutrition and health, sodium has only a "small effect" on blood pressure.