High salt intake favors unhealthy vascular changes in adolescents

High salt intake from teenagers can lead to vascular changes
Anyone who wants to eat a healthy diet should not only limit their fat and sugar intake, but also not eat too much salt. This is especially true for children and adolescents. A recent study has shown that high salt intake can cause unhealthy vascular changes in teenagers.

Too much salt is unhealthy
For years nutrition experts have called for reducing salt intake. Although salt is a vital mineral for the body. But those who eat too much risk health damage such as high blood pressure. This also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack. A few months ago, a study by American researchers showed that even the health of children is endangered by too much salt. And now scientists have reported that adolescents who eat too much salt often show unhealthy vascular changes.

High salt intake can even cause vascular changes in adolescents. One study found that the elasticity of the arteries was impaired in these teenagers. That can be dangerous. (Image: Sabine Hürdler / fotolia.com)

Measurable changes in the blood vessels
Teenagers who eat too much salt can measure measurable changes in their blood vessels. The researchers reported at the 2017 Pediatric Societies Meeting in San Francisco.

The official news magazine of the American Academy of Pediatrics states that hardening of the arteries is one of the precursors of cardiovascular disease and a known risk factor for heart attack and stroke.

Previous studies have shown that decreasing flexibility of the arteries in adolescence is associated with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Lower arterial flexibility
A total of 775 young people participated in the study. The researchers found in the subjects the elasticity of the arteries. How much salt they consumed was documented by the teenagers themselves in a food diary.

According to study leader Dr. Elaine M. Urbina's measurements showed that higher salt intake was associated with lower arterial flexibility and higher pulse wave velocity (PWV).

Increased salt intake therefore had less arterial flexibility in the peripheral arteries in the extremities as well as in the central arteries.

"It's well known that adolescents and young adults tend to eat more salt than is recommended. Our study suggests that this is associated with changes in the body that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke in the longer term. " Urbina.

Not more than a teaspoon of salt a day
But how much salt should you eat??

"The competent authorities for health and food safety agree that most Europeans have daily consumption (around 8-11 g) which is well above the recommended level," the World Health Organization (WHO) writes on its website.

The WHO recommends a salt intake of less than five grams per day (equivalent to about one teaspoon of salt daily) to prevent cardiovascular disease. This maximum amount also applies to children between seven and ten years old.

In children between 18 months and three years, the salt intake should not exceed two grams per day. And for children under nine months, no salt should be added to the food. (Ad)