Salt intake is strongly associated with obesity

[Guest guest]

Interesting article and argument. Pushing some

" correlation " as " causation " but still interesting. I

cant find the abstract online yet..

JSN

Salt intake is strongly associated with obesity

Comprehensive reduction in salt intake would be a

powerful means against obesity, claims new study

A study published in the journal " Progress in

Cardiovascular Diseases " refutes the frequently

repeated claims that a comprehensive salt reduction

would not produce any overall health benefits, or

would even increase diseases and shorten the

life-span.

Professors, Dr. Heikki Karppanen of the University of

Helsinki and Dr. Eero Mervaala of the University of

Kuopio report that an average 30-35% reduction in salt

intake during 30 years in Finland was associated with

a dramatic 75 % to 80 % decrease in both stroke and

coronary heart disease mortality in the population

under 65 years. During the same period the

life expectancy of both male and female Finns

increased by 6 to 7 years.

The most powerful explaining factor for the favorable

changes was the more than 10 mmHg ( " point " ) decrease

in the average blood pressure of the population. A

marked decrease in the average cholesterol levels of

the population also remarkably contributed to the

decrease of heart diseases. The extensive use of drugs

contributed less than 10 % of the observed

decreases in blood pressure, cholesterol, and

cardiovascular diseases.

" To our surprise, the sales figures of the American

Salt Institute divulged that salt intake increased

more than 50 % in USA during 15 years from mid-1980s

to the late 1990s " , says Professor Karppanen. The

study reports that the prevalence of high blood

pressure, which had long shown a decreasing trend,

turned to a marked increase concomitantly with the

increase in salt intake.

Perhaps the most interesting finding of the study is

the close link between salt intake and obesity. The

study reports that increasing intakes of sodium (salt)

obligatorily produce a progressive increase in thirst.

The progressive increase in the average intake of salt

explains the observed concomitant increase in the

intake of beverages which, in turn, has caused a

marked net increase in the intake of calories during

the same period in the United States.

Between 1977 and 2001, energy intake from sweetened

beverages increased on the average by 135 % in the

United States. During the same period, the energy

intake from milk was reduced by 38 %. The net effect

on energy intake was a 278 kcal increase per person a

day. The American Heart Association has estimated

that, to burn the average increase of 278 kcal a

day and avoid the development or worsening of obesity,

each American should now walk or vacuum 1 hour 10

minutes more every day than in 1977.

Unfortunately, this has not been the case.

In a decade from 1976-1980 to 1988-1994 the prevalence

of obesity increased 61 % among men and 52 % among

women. During 1999 to 2002, the prevalence

of obesity was 120 % higher among men and 99 % higher

among women as compared with the 1976 to 1980 figures.

The increased intake of salt, through

induction of thirst with increased intake of

high-energy beverages has obviously remarkably

contributed to the increase of obesity in the United

States.

It is noteworthy that, until 1983 the use of salt did

not change or even showed a continuous decreasing

trend in the United States. The prevalence of obesity

was relatively low and remained essentially unchanged

from early 1960s to early 1980s. The study suggests

that a comprehensive reduction in salt intake, which

would reduce the intake of high-energy beverages,

would be a potentially powerful means in the so far

failed attempts to combat obesity in industrialized

societies.

The authors conclude that there now is conclusive

population-wide evidence, which indicates powerful

beneficial health effects of comprehensive salt

reduction. Decrease of obesity is now added to the

previous list of recognized benefits. The

population-wide long-term experience from Finland

indicates that a remarkable decrease in the salt

intake has not caused any adverse effects. Professor

Karppanen states that " the repeated warnings of

various industries on possible harmful effects of

comprehensive salt reduction are unjustified and even

unethical " .