Clarifying Optimal Sodium Intake Project

Summary

Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally, accounting for 25-35% of the population-attributable fraction. Sodium (salt) intake is a key determinant of blood pressure, and reducing sodium intake has emerged as an important target for population-based interventions to prevent CVD. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the optimal level of sodium intake that is associated with lowest CV risk, and whether optimal levels differ for different populations and individuals. International and national guidelines recommend low sodium intake (\<2.3g/day, or lower) in all persons, and advocate a population-wide approach to reducing sodium. Most of the world's population (\~95%) consume between 3 and 6g/day of sodium (mean intake 4.0g/day), which means that most people will require a major change to their diet, to achieve the guideline target (\<2g/day). While there is convincing evidence that high sodium intake (\>5g/day) is associated with an increased risk of CVD, compared to low or moderate intake, the evidence that low sodium intake (\<2.0g/day) is associated with a lower risk of CVD than moderate intake (2.0-5g/day) is inconsistent and inconclusive. The investigators plan to conduct a Phase IIb clinical trial to evaluate the role of low sodium intake (versus moderate) on cardiovascular biomarkers.

Conditions

• Blood Pressure
• Hypertension
• Kidney Disease
• Cardiovascular Disease

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Sodium Reduction

In addition to usual care, those randomised to the intervention arm will receive specific counseling on behavioural and environmental factors that promote sodium reduction after randomization and at all specified post-randomisation visits, targeting sodium intake of \<100mmol/day (\<2.3g/day). A research dietitian will develop the specific components of the intervention, based on standardised approaches to education interventions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• European Research Council

  collaborator OTHER

• National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

  collaborator OTHER

• University College Hospital Galway

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Martin J O'Donnell, MB PhD MRCPI · National University of Ireland, Galway

• Andrew Smyth, MB PhD · National University of Ireland, Galway

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

40 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-04-30

Primary Completion

2020-08-31

Completion

2020-08-31

Countries

• Ireland

Study Locations