It’s not news that reducing sodium intake can lower blood pressure. But a new study shows that even a small reduction — only one teaspoon a day — can make a big difference, even to people on blood pressure-reducing drugs.
In a new research study, reported here, middle-aged to elderly participants reduced salt intake by one teaspoon per day compared to their usual diet. “The result was a decline in systolic blood pressure by about 6 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), which is comparable to the effect produced by commonly utilized first-line medication for high blood pressure.”
The article quotes co-principal investigator Norrina Allen, Ph.D., MPH, professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine: “We found that 70-75% of all people, regardless of whether they are already on blood pressure medications or not, are likely to see a reduction in their blood pressure if they lower the sodium in their diet.”
Previously, it was “unclear if people on blood pressure medication could further reduce their blood pressure by lowering their sodium intake.”
From the article: “The blood pressure-lowering effect of sodium reduction was achieved rapidly and safely within one week.” This emphasizes “the potential public health impact of dietary sodium reduction in the population, given that high blood pressure is such a huge health issue worldwide,” according to co-investigator Cora Lewis, MD, MSPH, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology, and professor of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “It is particularly exciting that the products we used in the low sodium diet are generally available, so people have a real shot at improving their health through improving their diet in this way.”