Some people may experience a slight [2.5 percent] increase in cholesterol levels if they cut back on salt consumption, according to a study published last week analyzing data from 167 studies measuring the effects of sodium intake reduction, The Boston Globe reports.
While reducing salt intake has been shown to lower blood pressure levels, studies have also shown that cutting back on sodium — especially for otherwise healthy individuals — can actually do more harm than good.
A study published last May in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that not only did healthy people who consumed the least amount of sodium had no health advantage over those who consumed the most, but they actually had a slightly higher risk of dying from heart disease. Furthermore, another review analysis in July found that lowering salt intake did not lead to fewer deaths from heart attacks and strokes — even in individuals who already had heart disease.
Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute, a trade organization representing the salt industry that cited the study in a press release, told food, diet and health news website foodconsumer.org: “After reading this new, in-depth medical study, our federal government should tell Americans, ‘Warning: LOW-sodium diets are hazardous to your health.’”
This study was published in the American Journal of Hypertension
