A large international study questions the conventional wisdom that most people should cut back on salt, suggesting that the amount most folks consume is OK for heart health — and too little might be as bad as too much. The findings came under immediate attack by other scientists.
Limiting salt is still important for people with high blood pressure. In fact, a second study estimates that too much sodium contributes to up to 1.65 million deaths each year. The studies have strengths and weaknesses and come as the U.S. government is preparing to nudge industry to trim sodium in processed and restaurant foods.
The first study showed that people who consume 3 to 6 grams of sodium a day (about 8 to 15 grams of salt) had the lowest risk of heart problems or death from any cause during the nearly four-year study.
The American Heart Association advises no more than 1.5 grams. The studies are in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
