Galway researcher studies healthy sodium levels in diets
A European Research Centre-approved starter grant has been awarded to NUI Galway’s Professor of Translational Medicine Martin O’Donnell for his research into healthy levels of salt intake.
Professor O’Donnell’s award will support his so-called ‘blue sky research’ project entitled ‘Clarifying Optimal Sodium Intake Project’ (COSIP) which seeks to clarify how much sodium intake is optimal for our health.
“Something that has been researched a lot in the past 40 years and particularly the past 20 years is how much salt we take in. 95% of sodium we take in is through salt,” said Professor O’Donnell who explained that the leading cause of death globally is cardiovascular disease and elevated blood pressure.
“Studies show that taking in a lot of salt contributes to heart disease and high blood pressure. Studies say that the lower your salt intake the better but sodium is an essential nutrient. Our bodies need sodium.”
Professor O’Donnell explained that studies looking at reducing sodium intake and blood pressure recommended that sodium intake is reduced to less than two grams per day, which is about half of the current intake of the entire population.
But some recent studies by Professor O’Donnell and his research group has raised questions about whether low sodium intake is optimal for health in all people and this is what he intends to research over the next five years.
“My research will focus on understanding the relationship between different levels of sodium intake and physiological markers of cardiovascular health.
“We will explore whether our genetics play an important role in modifying the effects of different levels of sodium intake on blood pressure and risk of stroke and heart disease. Does one size fit all or do people have different sodium requirements? In addition to sodium intake, we also look at potassium intake and effect of overall dietary patterns on cardiovascular health,” he said.
While the whole world is assuming the lower the salt intake, the better, Professor O’Donnell believes that this could also be damaging to the body.
“You can actually go too low with salt intake. Sodium is needed for most physiological functions. While too much salt is bad for blood pressure, an adequate amount is needed to regulate blood pressure,” he said.
Professor O’Donnell’s research will be funded by the ERC which he says will have considerable impact on his research as it will support an ambitious research programme over the next five years.
“There’s a lot of scientific aspects to this but our end product will be practical,” he said.