Reducing Dietary Salt Lowers Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Lowering Sodium in Your Diet Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Disease by 26 Percent
Boston, MA and Dallas, TX – Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), in an extended follow-up of a randomized trial, found that reducing sodium intake among men and women lowered subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease or death by 26 percent more than 10 years after the trial ended. These findings will be presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2005.
BWH researcher, Nancy Cook, ScD, in a presentation on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 at 9:30 am CST, expanded upon the most recent findings from the analysis of the Trials of Hypertension Prevention (TOHP)- in which participants, ages 30 to 54 years with high normal blood pressure took part in a sodium intervention during which participants were taught to identify, select and prepare low-salt foods. The study demonstrated that by reducing dietary salt intake, an individual could lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease 10 to 15 years post-trial. Specifically, participants who were randomized to a sodium lifestyle intervention during the study period experienced a 26 percent decreased risk of cardiovascular disease or death up to 15 years later. Researchers also found that a higher average intake of sodium was associated with increased risk of later cardiovascular events. These findings mark the only randomized sodium intervention that has been followed for later cardiovascular disease risk.
“These data will help answer some of the remaining questions regarding the health effects of sodium intake. A decrease in sodium in the diet, even among those with only modestly elevated blood pressure, lowers risk of cardiovascular disease later in life,” said Cook, who is also an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
The TOHP trials took place at 10 clinic sites throughout the United States from 1987 to 1995, and BWH became the central site for post-trial follow-up of those participants initially involved in the trials.
Please contact BWH Media Relations for more information at (617) 534-1600 or BWHMediaRelations@partners.org.
BWH is a 747-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare System, an integrated health care delivery network. BWH is committed to excellence in patient care with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery. The BWH medical preeminence dates back to 1832 and today that rich history in clinical care is coupled with its national leadership in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, dedication to educating and training health care professionals, and strength in biomedical research. With $370M in funding and more than 500 research scientists, BWH is an acclaimed leader in clinical, basic and epidemiological investigation - including the landmark Nurses Health Study, Physicians Health Studies, and the Women's Health Initiative. For more information visit www.brighamandwomens.org.
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