Salt cuts have 'saved lives,' says study

Conclusion This UK study used serial cross-sectional data collected as part of the Health Survey for England, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, and the Office for National Statistics between 2003 and 2011. It found that average blood pressure and salt intake fell significantly, and there was a reduction in the number of deaths from stroke and heart disease. The researchers only looked at people who were not taking blood pressure medications or other drugs that might affect blood pressure. After adjusting for some relevant confounders, there was still a significant decrease in blood pressure between 2003 and 2011 (systolic fell by 2.7mmHg and diastolic fell by 0.23mmHg). They say that it is likely that this decrease in blood pressure was thanks to the reduction in salt intake that occurred during this period. However, although the changes in salt intake could have had an effect, this study cannot prove that this is the case. Salt intake and blood pressure were measured in different people, and in different people at the different time points. There also could have been other factors that are responsible for the changes seen, such as differences in the people measured or other differences that occurred that were not observed by the researchers. During this period, it is reported that the number of people who smoked fell, but this wasn't adjusted for in the analysis. The researchers didn't take into account other possible factors that could explain the changes seen, such...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Food/diet Source Type: news