Hypothesis: High salt intake as an inflammation amplifier might be involved in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders

Abstract

Salt is an important macronutrient that plays pivotal roles in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. High salt intake is an important cause of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, recent investigations uncovered the role of excessive salt intake in the induction of severe inflammatory reactions through augmentation of T helper-17 pathway and their inflammatory cytokines. In contrast, numerous studies have shown the role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders (NPD). Here, it is hypothesized that high salt intake can increase the risk of NPD through salt-derived neural inflammations. Therefore, this hypothesis suggests that low-salt intake can decrease the risk of NPD. The present review discusses the potential role of excessive salt intake in the pathophysiology of NPD.