Association Between Changes in Salt Intake and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between salt intake and blood pressure across 43 randomized controlled trials. The analysis found that higher salt intake was associated with higher blood pressure, while lower intake correlated with greater reductions in blood pressure. The study highlights a graded association across defined intake categories.

Key findings

• Higher salt intake (>15 g/day) was linked to increased blood pressure.
• Lower salt intake (<5 g/day) was associated with larger reductions in blood pressure.
• The analysis included data from 43 randomized controlled trials conducted between 1983 and 2024.
• Exploratory continuous trends did not show statistical significance due to residual heterogeneity.

Why it matters

Understanding the relationship between salt intake and blood pressure is crucial for developing effective public health strategies and individualized treatment plans to manage hypertension and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.