BY STEVE BORN
Thought to be the first study of its kind—a unique population-based study cohort—Swedish researchers found a connection between excess sodium intake and both carotid and coronary atherosclerosis [1].
Over 10,000 participants in the Swedish Cardiopulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS) were involved in this study. The average age was 58, comprised of 52% women and 48% men. Values for sodium consumption among participants with valid urinary data were calculated using estimated 24-hour sodium excretion. The results showed that rising sodium excretion levels were linked to increased occurrence of carotid plaques, coronary artery calcium, and the narrowing of the coronary arteries.
According to study researcher Dr. Jonas Wuopio, Ph.D., “The study is the first to examine a potential link between high dietary sodium intake and atherosclerosis in coronary and carotid arteries. The association was linear, meaning that each rise in salt intake was linked with more atherosclerosis. The findings applied even at normal blood pressure levels, suggesting that salt could be damaging even before the development of hypertension.”
Atherosclerosis is the process of plaque build-up, primarily of cholesterol, fats, and calcium, in and on the artery walls. Coronary artery disease—the number one killer of Americans—occurs when the plaque build-up causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time, blocking optimal blood flow to the heart.
Carotid atherosclerosis (carotid artery disease) is the build-up of plaque and narrowing/hardening in the carotid arteries in the neck, the ones that deliver blood to the brain. Carotid atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for stroke, and when considered separately from other cardiovascular diseases, stroke ranks fifth among all causes of death in the United States.
With this eye-opening research and a wealth of other research detailing the health issues associated with excess sodium intake, it's no wonder the World Health Organization (WHO) is vigorously campaigning to reduce the global population's salt intake by an average of 30% by 2025. With a 30% reduction in global salt intake, the World estimates that 2.5 million deaths could be prevented yearly [2]. In the United States, with coronary artery disease and stroke ranking 1st and 5th in terms of death rates—much of which is due to excess sodium consumption—a reduction is not just a wise strategy; it's a necessity!
REFERENCES:
[1] Wuopio J, Ling YT, Orho-Melander M, Engström G, Ärnlöv J. The association between sodium intake and coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in the Swedish population. Eur Heart J Open. 2023;3:oead024.
[2] https://hammernutrition.com/blogs/endurance-news-weekly/reduce-sodium-in-processed-packaged-foods