06 November 2013
A new US review suggests that there is a normal range of human sodium intake defined by physiology and biological needs and not by the food supply.
The review included 129 studies, with a total of 50,060 participants, investigating the 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (UNaV) in defined populations of free-living people (1). The analysis showed that the participants’ sodium intake, as defined by 24-hour UNaV, was characterized by a narrow range that is reproducible over at least 5 decades and across 45 countries. The sodium intakes followed a classic normal distribution that depicts a narrow range with strict lower and upper limits of normality.
The researchers concluded that the finding, which reveals sodium intake has been unchanged over decades of observation and a wide array of societies, challenges the entrenched perceptions that sodium intake is increasing and that the postulated increase is due to the sodium content of the food supply. This data does not support those often-expressed opinions that current sodium intakes exceed physiological need, that they can be significantly reduced, and that the reduction can be maintained over time. Although there is increas- ing evidence showing that reduction of salt in food does not lead to decrease of cardiovascular disease risk; nevertheless, the recommended levels of sodium intake by American health organizations have been grad- ually but significantly decreased over the past 40 years, the scientists said.
The new US Institute of Medicine (IOM) report ‘Sodium Intake in Populations − Assessment of Evidence’ stated that evidence from studies on direct health outcomes is inconsistent and insufficient to conclude that lowering sodium intakes below 2,300 mg per day either increases or decreases the risk of developing cardio- vascular disease (including stroke and cardiovascular disease-related mortality) or all-cause mortality in the general US population (2). The researchers said that the findings of the IOM committee indicate the previ- ously established upper limit of sodium intake deemed safe (2,300 mg/day or 100 mmol/day) is not sup- ported by scientific evidence. Rather, it would be reasonable to conclude that the estimated healthy range for human sodium intake is 2,800–5,000 mg/day.
22 August 2014
A new study from Iran suggests that inhaled corticosteroids in combination with vitamin D supplementation could improve airway functions in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma.
1 October 2012
Vegetarian diets have been practiced since ancient times. The popularity of vegetarian diets in recent years has been fuelled by ethical considerations, health concerns, environmental issues, and reli-gious factors. The reason a person chooses to be vegetarian influences the pattern of foods they consume, from only eating plant foods to permitting dairy and/or egg products in the diet. When a vegetarian diet is appropriately planned, it can be nutritionally adequate for individuals through all stages of the life cycle and can promote health and lower the risk of major chronic diseases. Avoiding nutrient-dense meat or animal-based diets means paying close attention to the diet in order to ensure balanced nutrition and an adequate micronutrient intake.
28 May 2014
According to a new review from Italy, omega-3 fatty acid supplements can significantly reduce symptoms in patients with diagnosis of major depressive disorder.
