Study Questions Ideal Sodium Level

Both high and relatively low levels of sodium may be bad for some people, a new study suggests. It’s one of a few studies published recently that question whether a low-sodium diet is best for everyone. The new study included 30,000 people. Some had heart or artery disease. Others had a high risk of developing it. Researchers measured their total output of sodium in urine in a 24-hour period. This was used to estimate how much sodium they took in per day. Researchers kept track of them for the next 4 years. The most heart-related deaths and hospital stays for heart failure occurred among people with the highest and lowest levels of sodium in their urine. People with high sodium also had more heart attacks and strokes. People with a mid-range level of sodium had the fewest problems. But many of those in the lower-sodium group still consumed more sodium than recommended.