1 Gram Reduction In Daily Salt Intake Could Prevent 4 Million Deaths

A simple one-gram reduction in salt consumption could save four million lives by 2030, according to a new modeling study conducted in China.

China has the ominous distinction of having the highest salt intake in the world, averaging 11 grams per day, which is twice the amount recommended by the World Health Organization. High salt intake leads to increased blood pressure, which in turn causes cardiovascular diseases. Tellingly, 40% of all deaths in China are on account of cardiovascular diseases.

In the study, published in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health, researchers analyzed the effects of different salt reduction scenarios on systolic blood pressure. Systolic pressure is the higher number in a blood pressure reading, which tells the force with which the heart is pumping blood within the body.

The first approach involved reducing daily salt intake by one gram within a year. The second method targeted WHO's aim of reducing salt intake by 30% by 2025, which would translate to a 3.2 gram/day decrease during the period. The final scenario opted to cut consumption to less than 5 gram/day by 2030.

"Modelling studies like this one provide an indicator of how specific dietary changes have the potential to alter the course of diet-related disease," said study co-author Shane McAuliffe, Science and Digital Communications lead at the NNEdPro Global Centre for Nutrition and Health.

Lowering salt intake by one gram daily could prevent nine million cases of heart disease and stroke by 2030, the researchers noted. Of the nine million cases, four million would turn fatal. If WHO's target was achieved and sustained for five years, a total of 14 million cases of heart disease and strokes could be averted by 2030, of which 6 million would be fatal.

The study showed the third scenario would reduce average systolic blood pressure by about 7 mmHg, which would result in 17 million fewer cases of heart disease and strokes or eight million fatal cases.

Researchers said the benefits will apply to people of all ages and across genders.

However, one caveat to the results was that the "estimates rely on salt reductions to not only be achieved but also sustained over time, which may be a great challenge given the fast-changing dietary patterns seen in China."

Boasting that the proof of "the substantial benefits of salt reduction in China is consistent and compelling", researchers said "achieving and sustaining population salt reduction in China could prevent millions of unnecessary cardiovascular events and deaths." Since China has such a big population, "this would also bring major benefits to global health."

"Given the established dose-response relationship between salt intake, systolic blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, reducing the intake of one of the highest global consumers would have a significant impact on population health — something that has already been achieved in other countries worldwide," McAuliffe added.