Dietary Sodium Reduction Does Not Affect Circulating Glucose Concentrations in Fasting Children or Adults: Findings from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis revealed no evidence that, in trials with a short intervention and large reductions in sodium, circulating glucose concentrations differed between groups. Recommendations for future studies include extending intervention durations, ensuring comparability of groups at baseline through randomization, and assessing sodium intakes relevant to population sodium reduction. In addition, analyses on other metabolic variables were limited because of the number of trials reporting these outcomes and lack of consistency across measures, suggesting a need for comparable measures of glucose tolerance across studies.

A Lower Sodium Neapolitan Pizza Prepared with Seawater in Place of Salt: Nutritional Properties, Sensory Characteristics, and Metabolic Effects

“…Finally, the similarities in the glucose and insulin responses to the two different meals detected in our study are in accordance with the conclusions of a systematic review, which analysed the available intervention trials assessing the effect of sodium reduction on glucose tolerance [30] and highlighted the controversial results of the different trials.…”

Association between dietary sodium intake and cognitive function in older adults

“…They advised that further research is needed to examine the associations of low to moderate levels of sodium intake with multiple health outcomes, including cognitive function. Although it has been established that lowering dietary sodium can reduce hypertension (31, 32) it is possible that low levels of dietary sodium may adversely impact insulin regulation as well as the renin-angiotensin and sympathetic systems and this may adversely affect cognitive function (33–35). A recent study reported a J-shaped association of sodium intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality (36).…”

Dietary Sodium and Cardiovascular Disease Risk — Measurement Matters

“…According to systematic reviews and meta-analyses, sodium reduction does not affect fasting glucose levels or consistently affect insulin resistance, 55 nor does it affect glycated hemoglobin levels in patients with diabetes. 56 Conversely, sodium reduction has health benefits beyond blood-pressure lowering, such as improved creatinine clearance in patients with diabetes and a lower risk of proteinuria in those with chronic kidney disease.…”