What is the benefit of reducing salt in the diet for people with a weak heart, scientists explained

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People with a weak heart are often advised to reduce their salt intake. But until now, there was almost no scientific evidence behind this recommendation.

Scientists from the University of Alberta (Canada) undertook the study of this issue.

The results of a large randomized clinical trial were presented at the regular session of the American College of Cardiology.

Researchers followed 806 patients at 26 medical centers in Canada, the United States, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and New Zealand. All of them suffered from heart failure. Half of the participants received nutritional recommendations on how to reduce salt intake with food.

The target sodium intake was 1,500 mg per day (about two-thirds of a teaspoon of salt). Before the study, patients consumed an average of 2,217 mg of sodium per day, or slightly less than a teaspoon of salt. Those who received the dietary recommendations, the study found, subsequently consumed an average of 1,658 mg of sodium per day. The second half of the study participants – 2072 mg. These data were collected over a year.

The researchers compared the rates of all-cause mortality, hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease, and emergency room visits for cardiovascular disease in the two groups. They did not find a statistically significant difference.

However, the group consuming less sodium showed a steady improvement in the assessment of overall quality of life. The scientists also found a reduction in symptoms such as swelling, fatigue and cough.

“We can't give a general recommendation to all patients and say that limiting sodium intake will reduce your chances of either dying or being in the hospital. But I can say with confidence that it can improve the quality of life in general,” says lead study author Justin Ezekowitz, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta.