Salt and diabetes – what’s the connection?
High salt consumption could be associated with type 2 diabetes. A study establishes for the first time a possible link between the two.
People at risk of type 2 diabetes already know they need to avoid sugar, but new research suggests they should also cut back on salt.
The study included 400,000 adults
The study, led by the American University Tulane and published in the November issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that frequent addition of salt to food was associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The study surveyed more than 400,000 adults registered in the UK Biobank about their salt intake.
During an average follow-up period of 11.8 years, more than 13,000 cases of type 2 diabetes developed among the participants.
What does a higher risk for diabetes mean?
Compared to those who “never” or “rarely” used salt, participants who “sometimes,” “usually,” or “always” added salt had a 13%, 20%, and 39% higher risk, respectively to develop type 2 diabetes.
“We already know that limiting salt can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension, but this study shows for the first time that removing salt from the diet could also help prevent type 2 diabetes,” said lead author Prof. Dr. Lu Qi, from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, in the United States.
What would be the possible cause of the association between salt and type 2 diabetes
He says more research is needed to determine why high salt intake might be linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
However, the researcher believes that salt encourages people to eat larger portions, thereby increasing the chances of developing risk factors such as obesity and inflammation.
The study found an association between frequent salt consumption and Body Mass Index (BMI), and a higher waist-to-hip ratio.
According to the American researcher, the next step is to conduct a clinical trial that controls the amount of salt that the participants consume to observe the effects.
The expert says it’s never too early to adopt a low-salt diet. “It’s not a difficult change to make, but it could have a tremendous impact on health,” commented the professor.
A 2016 study showed that diabetics should reduce their salt intake
Reducing the amount of salt consumed daily by 2 grams leads to a significant decrease in blood pressure for people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and those with glucose intolerance. This change would lower the chances of having a stroke, heart attack or kidney disease for those with early stage type 2 diabetes. The amount they should reduce is the equivalent of two slices of white bread.
The WHO recommends consuming a maximum of 5 grams of salt per day for people over 51 years old. The average population today consumes 9-12 grams of salt per day, double the maximum recommended amount.
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