A low-sodium diet does not raise blood choleste...( WASHINGTON Sept. 25 Reducing the amou...)

A low-sodium diet does not raise blood cholesterol levels

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 Reducing the amount of sodium in a person's diet does not -- as some scientists have proposed -- increase blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, researchers reported today at the American Heart Association's 57th Annual High Blood Pressure Research Conference.

In the largest study of its kind, scientists looked at what happened when volunteers ate three levels of sodium: a "high" level typical of that eaten daily by most Americans; an "intermediate" level similar to the maximum recommended intake; and a "low" level roughly half of the "intermediate" level.

Consuming high amounts of sodium has been shown to increase risk for high blood pressure. Table salt (sodium chloride) is about 40 percent sodium.

The study reported today examined lipid data acquired during the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)-Sodium Trial, which was conducted at four U.S. medical centers between September 1997 and November 1999. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute sponsored the study.

"The main goal of the DASH-Sodium Trial was to test the effects of sodium intake on blood pressure in two distinct diets," said lead author Lawrence J. Appel, M.D., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

The DASH diet emphasizes eating fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and reduced amounts of red meat, fats and cholesterol. It is widely recommended to help people prevent or reduce high blood pressure and to lower the risk of heart disease. The study team reported in early 2001 that the DASH diet together with low sodium intake reduced blood pressure substantially.

Several small studies had previously suggested that extreme reductions in sodium would increase a person's lipid levels and thus, increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

"The DASH-Sodium trial also provided an unusual opportunity to examine the effects of sodium intake on lipids," Appel said. "We had a
'"/>

Contact: Carole Bullock
carole.bullock@heart.org
214-706-1279
American Heart Association
25-Sep-2003

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Yale authors raise concerns regarding regionalized heart attack care
2. Study says rare allergic reactions to drug-eluting stents may raise risk for heart attack
3. Hormone therapy controversy raises drug safety issues
4. Social Security reform proposals raise concerns for older women
5. NYU Child Study Center raises a record $3.4 million at Seventh Annual Child Advocacy Award Dinner
6. Obesity in middle age may drastically raise future medicare expenditures
7. Heavy drinking raises the risk of early death after heart attack
8. PCRM asks ACS to cancel fundraisers
9. Scientists raise concerns about second wave of mad cow prion infection
10. Lord Sainsbury praises the work of the UKs Innovative Manufacturing Research Centres
11. New study raises questions about the number of people in the UK who could be incubating vCJD

Post Your Comments: