High Salt Intake Linked to Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, New Study Finds
Tulane University Study Observes Over 400,000 Adults: Regular Salt Consumers at 39% Higher Risk, Suggests Salt Intake Encourages Larger Meal Portions and Obesity.
- New research from Tulane University shows that frequently adding salt to food can increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Over a decade-long study, it was found that those who 'sometimes,' 'usually,' or 'always' added salt had a 13%, 20%, and 39% higher risk respectively compared to those who rarely or never used salt.
- The study found a correlation between the frequency of salt consumption and higher BMI and waist-to-hip ratio, suggesting that high salt intake encourages people to eat larger portions, potentially leading to obesity and inflammation.
- The research examined 400,000 adults in the UK Biobank for a median of 11.8 years, during which over 13,000 cases of Type 2 diabetes developed among participants.
- Dr. Lu Qi, the study's lead author, said the findings reinforce the health benefits of limiting salt, which is already known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. He suggested that next steps could include clinical trials to examine the effects of controlling salt intake.
- The research findings suggest that early implementation of low-sodium diets can have a significant impact on health. Alternatives for flavoring food, such as herbs, spices, citrus fruits, or vinegar, are recommended over salty condiments.
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