Lääkäri varoittaa vähäsuolaisen ruokavalion riskeistä. Lähdeviitteitä tähän olisi toki kaivannut. Osa näistä riskeistä on minulle tuntemattomia, joten en ota kantaa kaikkien argumenttien oikeellisuuteen. Postaus antaa kuitenkin hyvän kuvan vähäsuolaisuuteen liittyvien ongelmien laajuudesta ja moninaisuudesta. Ja kyllä, kirjoittaja on ihan oikea lääketieteen tohtori ja työskentelee Intian suurimman yksityisen sairaalaketjun palveluksessa.
https://x.com/hyderabaddoctor/status/18 ... G1kiC43xswLainaa:
Is salt really a villain it is made out to be?
Salt restricted diet is in fashion. A low salt diet is routinely recommended by healthcare professionals to people with hypertension to manage it better. Not only that, but a low salt diet is also recommended for healthy people to reduce their risk of becoming hypertensive.
Is a low salt diet healthy?
I am afraid that the scientific evidence points to the contrary. A low salt diet is hazardous to health and is associated with increased risk of several diseases.
What are the health hazards associated with a low salt diet?
1. Increased serum insulin levels and insulin resistance,
2. Paradoxical rise in blood pressure (BP) in many people,
3. Increase in total and LDL cholesterol levels,
4. Worsening of glycemic control in people with diabetes,
5. Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke,
6. Increased risk of premature mortality,
7. Increased risk of hyponatremia (low sodium levels in the blood). Symptoms of hyponatremia may range from fatigue, weakness and malaise to coma, seizures and death (in severe cases),
8. Increase in average heart rate (by about 6 bpm),
Mechanisms for how low-salt diet induced insulin resistance
1. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
· Blocking sympathetic nervous system signaling improves insulin sensitivity.
· Catecholamines contribute to decreased insulin sensitivity- catecholamines decrease tissue glucose uptake and stimulate hepatic glucose production.
· Sympathetic hyperactivity can lead to constriction of peripheral blood vessels reducing skeletal muscle blood flow and inducing insulin resistance.
Activation of the RAAS (Renin angiotensin aldosterone system).
Elevation of non-esterified fatty acids.
Lower intracellular sodium concentrations, which can increase glucose absorption at the intestine.
Volume depletion.
· Reduced blood flow and insulin or glucose delivery to skeletal muscle.
Take home message
1. Sodium restriction (especially below 2300 mg/day) should be advised with caution to lower BP, in view of several health hazards associated with this strategy (as stated above). Salt restriction (as a strategy to lower BP) works only in a small number of salt-sensitive individuals.
2. Eating a diet mainly consisting of whole foods, while maintaining a normal-sodium intake (3000 mg – 5000 mg) per day, may be a better option for improving overall metabolic health and blood pressure.
Future directions: More studies are needed to get more clarity on this important topic.