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Recent study heart failure with excessive salt intake
Excessive salt intake has long been associated with various health conditions such as hypertension or an increased risk of stroke. Now, Finnish scientists have found that the risk of heart failure increases with high salt intake. Overall, the findings speak for a significant reduction in salt intake.
The salt content in foods today is so high that the recommended maximum daily intake of the World Health Organization (WHO) in this country is exceeded by most people. This excessive intake of salt has an extremely detrimental effect on the cardiovascular system in particular. In addition to the risk of hypertension, according to a recent study presented at the European Cardiology Congress (ESC) in Barcelona, there is also a risk of heart failure (heart failure)..
Excessive salt intake can not only promote high blood pressure, but also increase the risk of heart failure. (Image: HandmadePictures / fotolia.com) Increased risk of hypertension and strokes already known
"High salt intake is a major cause of hypertension and a known risk factor for stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD)," reports the German Society for Cardiology (DGK). So far, however, remained open, whether the excessive salt intake also increases the risk of heart failure. In the current study, the Finnish research team headed by Prof. Pekka Jousilahti from the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki investigated this question. They studied salt intake and the risk of heart failure in more than 4,500 subjects.
121 subjects developed heart failure
In the study, individual salt intake was measured on 4,630 participants using 24-hour urine samples, which is the gold standard at this point. Thus, "the researchers did not depend on the self-reported subjects," explains the DGK. Furthermore, the weight, the size, the blood pressure and various laboratory parameters were determined in the blood. Altogether over 12 years an accompaniment of the subjects took place. During the observation period, 121 study participants developed heart failure.
Double the risk of heart failure
When evaluating possible associations between salt intake and the likelihood of cardiac insufficiency, it became clear that "people who consumed more than 13.7 grams of salt per day had a two-fold higher risk of developing heart failure than those who did least consumed salt "(below 6.8 grams), reports the DGK. According to the WHO, daily salt requirements are two to three grams and a maximum of five grams of salt per day is recommended. "Those who eat very rich in salt, has a significantly increased risk of developing heart failure," the researchers concluded at the ESC.
Salt consumption in Germany too high
"The usual salt intake in Germany is far above these recommendations," reports Professor Dr. med. Eckart Fleck, press spokesman of the German Society of Cardiology (DGK) on the occasion of the current study results. According to data from the DGK, data from the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) show that men in Germany receive an average of 10 grams of salt per day and women 8.4 grams. The results of the current study are "another indication that cardiovascular prevention through appropriate nutrition and other lifestyle measures should be even more important", emphasizes Prof. Dr. med. spot.
Salt intake over processed foods
In Germany, about 80 percent of the daily salt intake via processed food is received, reports the DGK, citing the German consumer center. Much of the salt comes from processed foods, with the main sources being bread and rolls (27 to 28 percent of the salt intake), meat and sausage products (15 to 21 percent), dairy products and cheese (10 to 11 percent). In addition, ready meals and instant soups usually contain a lot of salt and also snacks are negative here. Thus, on many levels, a rethink would have to take place in order to significantly reduce salt intake throughout Germany and thereby minimize the health consequences of high salt consumption. (Fp)