A recent study (Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure. Vol. 4, No. 1, January, 2016) sought to evaluate the impact of sodium restriction on heart failure outcomes. The authors enrolled 902 patients with heart failure and followed them for 36 months. Based on the sodium intake, the subjects were classified into sodium restricted (<2,500 mg/d) and unrestricted (>2,500 mg/d) groups. The primary outcome was death or hospitalization from heart failure.
Most Americans consume about 3,300 mg/day of sodium.
Results: Sodium restriction was associated with a significantly higher risk of death or heart failure hospitalization of 85%.
