A recent study has revealed that reducing dietary sodium significantly lowered BP in the majority of middle-aged to elderly adults. This study conducted by Deepak Gupta and colleagues has beenpublished in JAMA Network Open .
The research spanning from April 2021 to February 2023 and involving 213 participants aged 50 to 75, has uncovered crucial insights into the impact of dietary sodium on blood pressure (BP). Notably, the decline in BP from a high- to low-sodium diet was consistent across various subgroups, independent of hypertension status, antihypertensive medication use, and other demographic factors.

Participants showed a median within-individual change in mean arterial pressure of 4 mm Hg between high- and low-sodium diets.
The low-sodium diet induced a decline in mean arterial pressure in 73.4% of individuals, challenging the conventional notion of "salt sensitivity."
A 5 mm Hg or greater decline in mean arterial pressure between high- and low-sodium diets classified 46% of individuals as "salt sensitive."
Adverse events were mild, reported by 9.9% and 8.0% of individuals while consuming the high- and low-sodium diets, respectively.
The study concludes that dietary sodium reduction has a significant impact on lowering BP, emphasizing its potential as a crucial intervention for individuals across different demographic and health profiles. Importantly, the findings challenge previous assumptions about salt sensitivity, highlighting the complexity of individual responses to dietary sodium.
These findings hold significant implications for public health, suggesting that dietary interventions focused on sodium reduction could play a pivotal role in managing and preventing hypertension. The study provides valuable evidence supporting the integration of dietary modifications, especially sodium reduction, as part of a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular health.
Reference:
Gupta, D. K., Lewis, C. E., Varady, K. A., Su, Y. R., Madhur, M. S., Lackland, D. T., Reis, J. P., Wang, T. J., Lloyd-Jones, D. M., & Allen, N. B. Effect of dietary sodium on blood pressure: A crossover trial. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association,2023. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.23651