Dietary sodium and cardiovascular morbidity/mortality: a brief commentary on the 'J-shape hypothesis'. Issue 12 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsirimiagkou, Christiana; Karatzi, Kalliopi; Argyris, Antonios; Basdeki, Eirini D.; Kaloudi, Panagiota; Yannakoulia, Mary; Protogerou, Athanase D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hypertension. Volume 39:Issue 12(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: cardiovascular morbidity -- cardiovascular mortality -- dietary sodium; Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000002953
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-5598

Abstract

Abstract : N/A: The last decade, a growing number of evidence support J-shape or inverse – instead of positive linear -- associations between dietary sodium intake and cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. A careful evaluation of these studies leads to the following observations: less accurate methods for dietary sodium assessment are usually used; most studies included high-risk participants, enhancing the possibility of a 'reverse causality' phenomenon. However, these limitations do not explain all the findings. Few carefully designed randomized clinical trials comparing different levels of sodium intake that address the issue of the optimal and safe range exist; therefore, current guidelines recommend a higher cut-off instead of a safe range of intake. Given the demonstrated harmful effects of very low sodium diets leading to subclinical vascular damage in animal studies, the 'J-shape hypothesis' cannot yet be either neglected or verified. There is a great need of well-designed general population-based prospective randomized clinical trials to address the issue.