Sodium restriction
Sodium restriction has been studied in 14 papers since 2016: none in people yet, 13 reviews; 7 in the past year. No study of it in people or animals has been published yet. The newest paper, Aug 5, 2026: “A Review on the Dietary Management of Hypertension in Special Populations”.
14 papers study it5 findingsUpdated
1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 14 papers on sodium restriction
At a glance
Independent labs found the same change in people. 3 independent labs in 3 countries.
1 of its findings points the other way.
- 3 independent labs in 3 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and 4 more
What did studies of sodium restriction find?
3Studies of sodium restriction measured 3 outcomes; the most studied are blood pressure (2 studies), mortality (1) and heart failure outcomes (1).
Blood pressure
downin humans2
2 studies
Blood pressure
downin humans2
Sodium restriction decreases blood pressure in humans (added to antihypertensive drug therapy).
“sodium restriction, potassium and magnesium supplementation showed consistent BP-lowering effects when added to drug therapy.”
Reviewadded to antihypertensive drug therapy
Dietary modification of blood pressure-lowering effects of antihypertensive drugs - a scoping review
Journal of hypertension
Sodium restriction decreases blood pressure in humans (hypertensive patients, registered dietitians in the multidisciplinary team) (ΔSBP -3.5 mmHg (95% CI: -4.52 to -2.48), ΔDBP -1.69 mmHg (95% CI: -2.36 to -1, 02)).
“There were significant differences between the deltas of blood pressure according to sodium restriction (ΔSBP -3.5 mmHg (95% CI: -4.52 to -2.48), ΔDBP -1.69 mmHg (95% CI: -2.36 to -1, 02))”
Reviewhypertensive patients, registered dietitians in the multidisciplinary team
Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Mortality
downin humans1
1 study
Mortality
downin humans1
Sodium restriction decreases mortality in humans (patients with hypertension; randomized controlled trials).
“While restriction reduced mortality risk in patients with hypertension”
Reviewpatients with hypertension; randomized controlled trials
Cureus
Heart failure outcomes
no changein humans1
1 study
Heart failure outcomes
no changein humans1
Sodium restriction showed no clear effect on heart failure outcomes in humans (patients with heart failure).
“restricting dietary sodium intake to less than 1500 mg/day is unlikely to improve outcomes in most patients with heart failure”
Reviewpatients with heart failureless than 1500 mg/day
Clin-STAR corner: Practice changing advances in cardiology
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
What is sodium restriction linked with?
1Studies link sodium restriction with 1 measure, most often mortality (1 study).
Mortality
upin humans1HR 1.2
1 study
Mortality
upin humans1HR 1.2
Sodium restriction is associated with mortality in humans (observational studies) (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05–1.38).
“In observational studies, low sodium intake was associated with increased mortality risk (HR, 1.20 (1.05-1.38)), supporting a J-shaped relationship.”
Reviewobservational studies
Cureus