[Threshold values of salt in instruction of salt-restricted diet for patients with heart disease]

The low-salt diet was basic means for therapeutic heart diseases. The salt threshold value represented individual's degree of salt taking or dietetic habit. The salt threshold value was measured in 60 patients with essential hypertension, 60 patients with congestive heart failure and 40 normal subjects. The salt threshold value revealed no significant difference in three groups (4.3% +/- 1.6%, 4.0% +/- 1.3% and 4.1% +/- 1.4%, P > 0.05). According to the salt threshold value, 120 patients were classed into three groups: high, middle and low salt threshold value group (n1 = 36, n2 = 74, n3 = 10). The patients were given selective and unitary low-salt diet with random before and after respectively. The results showed that acceptable level of patients to the diet in selective condition was significantly higher than that in unitary condition (81.7% vs 70.8%, P < 0.05). In conclusion, individualized selectivity restriction salt according to salt threshold value had advantage of no reducing appetite, patient's acceptance with ease and cooperative treatments.