It is Not Sodium that Causes Hypertension But Chloride
By phoenix35
@phoenix35 (384)
Philippines
November 16, 2011 11:49pm CST
I have read in some forums and a source that Sodium does not cause blood pressure to elevate, it is actually the Chloride. As we know the table salt is also known as NaCl - Sodium and Chloride. There was this study that tells that other forms of compound with Sodium did not resulted to high blood but only the one with the chloride combination. I need to arrive into a conclusion to finish my report. Should I STILL suggest that Sodium containing medicine like Sodium bicarbonate should be avoided by hypertensive individuals? Do you think the term 'Sodium' is just a generic for table salt? And pharmaceutical companies are simply being careful that most of them give the precaution 'not for people who are on a sodium diet?'
1 person likes this
3 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
17 Nov 11
The body needs a balance of the essential electrolytes, sodium, potassium, magnesium,and calcium. When salts of any of these elements are included in the diet, that is to say, dissolved in water, the two parts of the salt - in the case of common salt, sodium and chlorine - become disassociated, so it is correct to say that an excess of sodium (rather than sodium chlorate or sodium bicarbonate or any particular salt) is one of the causes of high blood pressure.
By far the commonest source of sodium in food is common salt (NaCl = sodium chloride) which contains 39.3% of sodium by weight but table salt generally contains many other salts as additives, some of which are also sodium salts. It is the total sodium content which is important.
In dietary information sodium content is very often listed separately from salt (and the sodium content is generally less than the salt content because most, but not all, of the sodium is in the form of NaCl. People who are on a low sodium diet should be limiting ALL forms of sodium including, of course, common salt but also other sodium compounds because they also contribute to the electrolyte imbalance.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
17 Nov 11
Instead of "... is one of the causes of high blood pressure." I should have said, "... is one of the contributory factors of high blood pressure."
Those on a low sodium diet sometimes substitute potassium chloride for sodium chloride but excess potassium also has its dangers.
You may find this general article on salt useful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt#Health_effects since it also covers the topic of 'dietary recommendations' by various countries and shows that there is very little consensus about what is actually a 'safe' level, though it is clear that most people eat far more salt than is necessary.
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
17 Nov 11
The reference to 'sodium chlorate' in paragraph #1 was a typing error! Please read 'sodium chloride'
Sodium chlorate is used as a weed-killer and is certainly not recommended as a food additive!
