Author: Marko Balašević
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Last Updated:
August 08, 2022
People who consume large amounts of salt do not increase their risk of high blood pressure and are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. So far, it has been found that large amounts of salt are harmful ...
People who consume large amounts of salt do not increase their risk of high blood pressure and are less likely to die from cardiovascular disease, according to a new European study.
So far, it has been found that large amounts of salt are harmful to health, and scientists have advised us to limit its consumption. However, the new study takes a completely different view on the subject.
The researchers used data from two different studies, which they combined with their study, among 3,700 Europeans. The experts measured salt consumption among the participants through urine samples.
The study's author, Dr. Jan Stayson of the University of Leuven in Belgium, and his team divided the volunteers into three groups - those with high, low and medium salt intake. None of the participants had heart disease, and 2/3 of them had a normal blood pressure level.
The condition of the volunteers was monitored for about 8 years, during which the researchers determined how many of them were diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, as well as how much they had high blood pressure.
The probability of vascular disease is the same in participants from all three groups. Experts find that participants who consume the least amount of salt have the highest cardiovascular disease rates and people who consume the most salt have the lowest rates. The findings were made on the basis of data during the eight years of observation.
About ¼ of the volunteers in all three groups, in which the blood pressure level was initially normal, subsequently began to rise. Scientists have found that blood pressure levels rise as salt intake increases over the years, but the increase is very small and could not affect health, according to Staison.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association .