Current Data on Dietary Sodium, Arterial Structure and Function in Humans: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular research
• Arterial health
• Dietary science

Background:

• Subclinical arterial damage (SAD), including arteriosclerosis, arterial remodeling, and atheromatosis, precedes cardiovascular disease (CVD) by decades.
• High sodium (Na) intake, nearly double global recommendations, is linked to CVD and mortality, often in a J-shaped pattern.
• Investigating dietary Na's role in SAD types may illuminate Na-CVD pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review human studies on dietary sodium's association with atheromatosis (plaques).
• To assess dietary sodium's link to arteriosclerosis (arterial stiffness markers).
• To examine dietary sodium's connection with arterial remodeling (intima-media thickness, lumen diameter).

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searches conducted in PubMed and Scopus databases.
• Inclusion of observational and interventional human studies.

Main Results:

• Evidence for a direct, clinically significant effect of sodium on arterial stiffening, independent of blood pressure, is unclear.
• Limited, inconclusive data suggest a trend between higher sodium intake and arterial hypertrophy.
• Scarce and heterogeneous data exist regarding sodium's association with atheromatosis.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence does not establish a clear, direct link between sodium intake and arterial stiffening.
• Further research is required to clarify sodium's role in arterial remodeling and atheromatosis.
• High-quality interventional studies are necessary to resolve existing controversies regarding sodium's impact on arterial health.