Salt Restriction and Challenges in China for Hypertension Control

This article reviews the best evidence currently available worldwide on the causal relationship between salt intake and blood pressure and its related diseases. The evidence clearly demonstrates that high salt intake causes blood pressure increases and that interventions, either by directly reducing salt intake or by using low-sodium salt substitutes, produce significant reductions in blood pressure, blood vessel stiffness, and cardiovascular mortality. Considering the challenges that China is facing-poor resources but high prevalence of hypertension, a well-coordinated national salt reduction initiative is recommended as a key public health strategy for the prevention and control of hypertension and its related diseases. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Duke Scholars

Author Lijing Yan DKU Faculty