Tipping the balance
Mail online, a UK popular website associated with the Daily Mail, recently ran an excellent article by journalist Jerome Burne on the work published in January, 2009 by Dr. Paul Welton and his group at Loyola University in Chicago.
Burne stressed the study suggested that by concentrating on the effects of salt on blood pressure we could be missing the bigger picture. That's because salt doesn't affect blood pressure on its own; it does so only in concert with another mineral - potassium. To go one step further, it should also be understood that by focusing on blood pressure alone we are missing the far more important issue of overall health outcomes. Of course, for some, blood pressure may indeed be an issue, however, health outcomes are paramount for everyone.
On the issue of blood pressure itself, the research indicated found that there was no significant difference in the risk of heart disease whether patients had been eating a lot or a little sodium. What did reduce the risk, however, was the ratio of sodium to its counter-balancing mineral potassium. Concuming more potassium tipped the balance in favour of reducung blood pressure for those who may be sensitive.
Burne went on to review evidence from the British medical Journal showing that cutting back on salt may help those taking medication for high blood pressure, but held no clear benefits for everyone else. He also referred to the excellent research carried out at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York showing no benefit and perhaps harm accruing from salt reduction. Finally, Burne stressed the importance of DASH-type diet as being one of the most effective ways of improving cardiovascular health.
Obviously, we need many more journalists delving more deeply into the issue of salt and health.
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