Concetti Chiave
High salt intake is linked to atherosclerosis risk, even without hypertension.
Sintesi
The study from Sweden, involving over 10,000 individuals aged 50-64, revealed a significant connection between dietary salt intake and atherosclerotic lesions in coronary and carotid arteries, irrespective of normal blood pressure. The findings suggest that salt could be a detrimental factor in atherosclerosis development before hypertension. The study utilized coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to assess salt intake's impact on atherosclerosis, highlighting a linear relationship between salt consumption and atherosclerosis in both coronary and carotid arteries. However, this association was negated after adjusting for blood pressure. The study also debunked the "J-curve" theory, showing that very low sodium intake did not increase cardiovascular disease risk. The research emphasizes the importance of limiting salt intake to prevent atherosclerosis, even with normal blood pressure.
Statistiche
Each 1000 mg rise in sodium excretion was associated with a 9% increased occurrence of carotid plaque.
A higher coronary artery calcium score was linked to rising salt consumption.
Each 1000 mg rise in sodium excretion was associated with a 17% increased occurrence of coronary artery stenosis.
Citazioni
"Excess salt is not a good thing, but the fact that it is linked to atherosclerosis, even in the absence of hypertension, was a bit of a surprise." - Dr. Jonas Wuopio