DIETARY SALT INTAKE: HISTORY, ASSESSMENT, AND BENEFIT IN HYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT

ABSTRACTMultiple lines of investigation including genetic, epidemiological, and interventional studies have demonstrated consistently a positive relationshipbetween salt intake, blood pressure (BP) increment, and cardiovascular consequences. In addition, it has been documented that excessive salt intakecan be attributed to various health complications such as asthma, osteoporosis, obesity, and gastric cancer. On the contrary, a reduction in salt intakehas been shown to reduce BP and improve health outcomes, although the evidence is not completely unequivocal. Despite this discrepancy, a lowsodiumdietis widelybeing recommendedtoall hypertensivepatients inparticular,as evidenceagainstits efficacy inconjunction with optimumhypertensivetreatmentiswellestablished.Determinationofsaltintakeamong hypertensivepatients is importantsince dietarysaltrestrictionhadbeenproventoimproveBP controlin conjunction with optimum pharmacological management.Variousmethodshavebeen used toestimatesodiumintakeincludes 24-hrsurinarysodium,overnighturinary sodium,spoturinary sodium/creatinineratio,and dietary surveymethods. Reducingpopulationsaltintakehas been proventobe beneficial, preventingmillionsofdeaths fromcardiovasculardiseaseandstroke,and reducingthe burdenonhealthservices.Manyindividualcountries aroundthe globehavealreadytakenaction againstreducingpopulationsaltintake.These strategieswereeither led bygovernment,nongovernmentorganizations,or industry.Keywords: Dietary sodium, Salt, Hypertension, Sodium measurement, Cost-effectiveness