The role of limiting sodium intake in the diet — from theory to practice

Abstract

Sodium is the main extracellular cation. In recent years, many mechanisms that have been involved in the regulation of sodium metabolism have been described, such as interstitial tissue and glycosaminoglycans, Th17 lymphocytes and interleukin 17, epithelial sodium channel, glycocalyx and proprotein converting enzyme subtilisin/kexin type 6. Complexity of homeostasis mechanisms sodium makes it an interest in modern pharmacology. The described mechanisms somewhat explain the sodium sensitivity phenomenon occurring in a significant proportion of patients with arterial hypertension. Processed foods are the main source of salt in the diet. The food processing process is associated with a significant increase in the salt content of these products. Excessive salt intake in the diet is observed in most countries of the world. The relationship between excessive salt intake in the diet and the occurrence of diseases such as hypertension, stroke, stomach cancer, left ventricular hypertrophy, urolithiasis and others has been the subject of numerous studies. Numerous benefits of reducing salt in the diet have been demonstrated.