Effects of Dietary Sodium on Blood PressurePengxiang Zuo 11070161University of Limerick

As we all know, salt is one of the most common nutrition on peoples daily diet. According to a report in UK, salt is the major source for sodium intake in UK. However, latest data shows that average adults intake of sodium is two point five times the suggested intake (Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition 2003). This could lead to serious long term impacts on individuals health.First of all, high dietary sodium consumption could cause high blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension. When the human body has a high content of sodium, it requires more water which exceeds the normal level requires. As a result, the excessive water that flow in the blood exerts more pressure on the heart until the excessive sodium excretes out of human body through urine (Campbell and Reece 2005). Hypertension has become a serious issue around the globe. In Canada, data shows that a substantial majority of all age-groups exceeded the upper level, whereas the proportions with intakes below the adequate intake were negligible. (Susan Barr 2009). In other words, most of the people in Canada has higher sodium intake than adequate levels which could turn into hypertension. In another research took place in southern Italy, a group of male adults were being monitored and assessed to determine the relationship between sodium intake and hypertension. The results have concluded that sample group of male adults intake of sodium is well above the suggested amounts. Among the participants of the study, overweight and obese participants have even higher salt intake (Venezia et al. 2010).Age-Sex Group (y)Mean Intake (mg)%> Upper Level

Both

1-3190377

4-8267793

Males

9-13355597

14-8414297

Females

9-13296283

14-182936 82

Note: Source: Reducing dietary sodium intake: The Canadian contextReferences Barr, S. I. (2010). Reducing dietary sodium intake: The canadian context. Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism, 35(1), 1-8. Reece, J., Urry, L. and Cain, M., 7th ed. (2005) Campbell Biology, Boston: PearsonScientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (2003) Salt and Health, London: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition 2003Venezia, A., Barba, G., Russo, O., Capasso, C., de Luca, V., Farinaro, E., et al. (2010). Dietary sodium intake in a sample of adult male population in southern italy: Results of the olivetti heart study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 64(5), 518-524.