Dietary salt and risks to health

A technical report summarizes and discusses available mortality rate data and ancillary evidence concerning health effects that may be attributed to high dietary intakes of salt (NaCl). Attention is given to: historical, pathophysiological, experimental, pharmacological, clinical, and epidemiological evidence concerning the effect of dietary NaCl intake on blood pressure and essential hypertension; the effect of excess NaCl intake on stroke and stomach cancer mortality incidence noted in different countries; the effect of reduced NaCl intakes; and the absence of risk for reducing NaCl intake. It is concluded that the health risk imposed by salt intake is a continuous one as indicated by blood pressure and mortality data, and that reduced salt intakes are associated with an improved health status and an increased life expe0652ctancy.