Study: Too much salt linked to 2.3 million yearly deaths worldwide

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Eating too much salt lead to the deaths of 2.3 million people across the world in just one year, new research says.

Researchers used nearly 250 surveys of salt intake that were part of the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study that included 303 medical institutions from 50 countries around the world. To determine the number of deaths tied to salt intake, they used that survey information along with an analysis of more than 100 medical trials that measured the role sodium has in increasing blood pressure and risk for strokes and heart disease. Researchers then compared the heart risks to those found in people who consumed 1,000 milligrams of sodium per day or less, which the researchers called "optimal" intake.

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The U.S. government recommends a cap of 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, while the American Heart Association recommends no more than 1,500 milligrams per day to avoid risk for heart disease and stroke.

Sixty percent of cardiovascular deaths linked to salt intake occurred in men, and 40 percent occurred in women, the study showed. Heart attacks were responsible for more than 40 percent of the deaths, strokes were behind another 40 percent and other types of heart disease accounted for the rest. Nearly one million of all these deaths -- 40 percent of them -- were considered "premature" because they occurred in adults younger than 69 years old.

While the United States historically consumes a lot of salt -- with previous American Heart Association surveys showing Americans consume on average 3,400 milligrams per day -- this study found 84 percent of all deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries.

The U.S. ranked 19th out of 30 countries with 429 deaths per one million adults linked to eating too much salt -- or about one in 10 U.S. deaths. The top three countries with the highest death rates cited to be from salt intake were Ukraine (2,109 deaths per one million adults), Russia (1,803 per one million adults) and Egypt (836 per one million adults), the study found.

The fewest deaths linked to salt were reported in Qatar (73 per one million adults), Kenya (78 per one million adults) and the United Arab Emirates (134 per one million adults).

The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's 2013 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, and are considered preliminary since they've yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"National and global public health measures, such as comprehensive sodium reduction programs, could potentially save millions of lives," Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, lead study author and co-director of the Program in Cardiovascular Epidemiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, said in a statement.

The American Heart Association urges people to curb their salt intake and be away of the "salty six," which refers to the six common foods that comprise most of the sodium in American's diets. Those foods are: breads and rolls, cold cuts and cured meats, pizza, poultry, soup and sandwiches.

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Dr. Steven Nissen, chair of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, told Everyday Health that the study was flawed.

"They're trying to extrapolate millions of death based upon salt intake, but it's not based upon any data on mortality and salt," he said. "It's also based on an extrapolation of the effect of sodium on blood pressure, which is a very big reach, and not a reliable estimate of the burdens of salt."

[mb7380988]

Hi Posting_Away,

Sorry to have offended you.

Why don't you do some research on your own about how sodium and iodine actually affect your body.

I eat 1/2 teaspoon of iodized Salt during the day, and a half a teaspoon of sea salt at night. I'm 50 years old and my last blood pressure check about a month ago was 70 over 115. Emotionally I'm actually quite stable, not angry often and never depressed. Prior to taking Iodine daily I was angry a lot and hated life.

Just my opinion but I think these studies are being done by people who have an agenda towards processed foods, which I can agree with but for different reasons.

[alphaa10000]

Personal anecdote on salt-- I read one doctor's opinion that only a small percentage of Americans are very sensitive to salt, so the rest of us safely can go about eating all the salt we wish, since the body excretes the excess.

That seemed reasonable, and I promptly increased my salt intake from very little salt to about 1,500mg daily. All my meals were the same before and after the increase in salt intake-- salt intake was the only change.

After a few weeks, however, I realized the salt had an undeniable effect. Pressure-cuff measurement showed the highest systolic and diastolic numbers I ever have had. In addition, there was an obvious pounding-in-the-ears sensation when I bent over.

After promptly dropping my salt intake to zero additional salt, the pressure-cuff measurement one month later was down 3-4 points, and I had only a very faint sensation of pounding-in-the-ears when I bent over. Two months later, I am down another two points on both systolic and diastolic, and for the most part, the pounding sensation has disappeared.

[realtimecoffee]

skiimaan says: "Salt lead to the deaths of 2.3 million people."

If Salt's that bad, what do you say about Pepper?
Is Pepper an accomplice to murder?
or
Is Pepper only Salt's BFF without knowing the bad side of Salt?
---
Pretty funny. Well done. I can just see Pepper looking into the camera, "Salt was so quiet and nice. I can't believe he was a mass murderer."

[realtimecoffee]

2.3 million out of 7 billion is pretty good odds. I can live with that. And if dieing before age 69 is considered premature worldwide, then I feel even better.

[foo8259]

Great, I have an significant statistical correlation to report: when people open umbrellas that's linked to over a 90% chance it will start to rain!

[Jonseen]

My blood pressure has been somewhat "uncontrolled", because it wasn't coming down even with medication. So I reduced salt and caffeine in my diet and the blood pressure readings improved by the next day and continue to be better as long as I avoid them both. Which isn't always easy because I like coffee all day long, and I like lots of salty foods. But I'll do it. The idea of having a stroke seems much worse than cutting back a little on salt and caffeine.

[jeffrow63]

I would rather die happy from too much salt than eat bland food.

[littleredtop]

The general sale of salt must be banned except to those who pass a background check revealing perfect weight to blood-pressure ratios and coronary artery blockage not exceeding 5% in no more than two arteries. No salt should be permitted in processed foods of any kind including but not limited to bacon, ham, hotdogs, breakfast cereals and canned soups. Restaurants must be prohibited from using salt in any form and from providing table salt for its customers. TSA and customs agents must be required to confiscate all salt and salty snacks carried by domestic and international airline passengers. Saltine crackers must be reformulated to eliminate all salt as well as gluten. Peanut production must immediately be halted with all plants destroyed and eradicated. Ballparks must be required to sell freeze dried soybeans in place of peanuts. All old fashion ice cream makers requiring the use of salt must be confiscated by Homeland Security forces. The use of salt to deice streets and highways must be prohibited except in Florida, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. The importation of any product or substance containing salt must be prohibited. The mining of salt or the processing of sea water into salt must be prohibited along with salt water swimming polls and aquariums. Anyone offering salt to any person under the age 18 must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. School security forces must check every student for salt in any form prior to allowing admittance. Every US city with a population of more than 240 persons must establish a special law enforcement branch responsible for maintaining the National no salt initiative.

[barbaram99]

ye make no sense..The body needs salt..Ye must have been napping during home ec classes..I don't salt my food..

[SUZAMBA]

Yada...Yada...Yada!

[mb7380988]

If the sodium level in your body drops too low, your heart will stop functioning and you will die. Lack of Iodine in the body is the #1 most preventable cause of mental retardation. These are proven medical facts. We have been told in the US to consume less sodium starting back in the late 60's -early 70's. Since then we have had a steady increase of Heart Attacks and Heart Diseases. We have also consumed less Iodine since the 60's -early 70's and seen an increase in Alzheimer's and Autism. I do not think these are a coincidence.

Who is behind these "studies". I think any news organization that wants' to be credible should include all information on who provided the funding for any "study" they promote as fact. I'd like to know just who it is that is trying to tell me how to live my life.

[mb7380988]

Why don't you do some research on your own about how sodium and iodine actually affect your body.

I eat 1/2 teaspoon of iodized Salt during the day, and a half a teaspoon of sea salt at night. I'm 50 years old and my last blood pressure check about a month ago was 70 over 115. Emotionally I'm actually quite stable, not angry often and never depressed. Prior to taking Iodine daily I was angry a lot and hated life.

Just my opinion but I think these studies are being done by people who have an agenda towards processed foods, which I can agree with but for different reasons.

[oneStarman1]

Which Happens to be EXACTLY 2.3 Million MORE Deaths
than were caused by Cannabis consumption