'Low-Salt Diet' Not Beneficial for Caucasians

A low-salt diet which restricts the sodium intake to 1.5grams per day may not be beneficial for Caucasians, according to a new study. Though a diet low in salt might help a little to reduce blood pressure it increases the blood cholesterol by 2.5% and triglycerides by 7%. It leads to increase of hormones (Renin, Aldosterone, adrenaline and nor-adrenaline) that cause salt accumulation in the body.Study researcher Dr. Niels Graudal, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark feels that the overall good and bad consequences of a low-salt diet may cancel each other out and so the diet has relatively very little effect on the development of disease. However the researchers feel that benefits might be greater in Blacks and Asians, but they are not certain about this.

Further wide scale research is essential as this study had certain limitations. As against the guidelines issued by the 'American Heart Association', the researchers defined a 'low-salt diet' as one that included 2.3grams of salt or less per day. Also, the effect of this diet on the body should be studied for a longer period than 4weeks.

The study has been published online in the 'American Journal of Hypertension'.

Source-Medindia