Global initiative to reduce salt intake

Abstract

High levels of dietary sodium intake are associated with raised blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, a high salt diet may have direct harmful effects independent of its effect on blood pressure, for example, by increasing the risk of stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy and renal disease. Increasing evidence also suggests that salt intake is related to obesity, associated with renal stones and osteoporosis and is probably a major cause of stomach cancer.