Salt in Water Linked to High BP and Albuminuria

A Kenya panel study suggested that drinking water sodium-chloride may elevate blood pressure (BP) and kidney disease risk, even in populations with minimal traditional chronic disease risk factors. The two-year panel study was conducted in 2022 and 2023 among 327 Daasanach adults over 18 years old in northern Kenya (434 total observations), researchers investigated the relationship between drinking water salinity and health outcomes, including BP, high BP, and albuminuria. Water samples were analyzed for overall salinity and ionic composition—primarily sodium-chloride, with lower levels of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. BP was measured at rest, and high BP was classified into stages 1 and 2. Urine samples were tested for albuminuria, defined as an albumin-to-creatinine ratio of ≥30 mg/g. Sodium-chloride was the dominant salt found in drinking water (mean 162.6 mg/L), while other minerals were present at much lower levels (mean 45 mg/L). Results showed that 40.1% of participants had at least stage 1 high BP, 13.5% had stage 2, and 42.2% had albuminuria. Adjusted panel regression models revealed that every 100 mg/L increase in drinking water sodium-chloride was associated with increases of 4.5 mm Hg systolic and 3.3 mm Hg diastolic BP, along with 3.0 times higher odds of stage 1 high BP, 3.6 times higher odds of stage 2 high BP, and 2.0 times higher odds of albuminuria. Notably, calcium, potassium, and magnesium showed no significant associations with health outcomes. Furthermore, only stage 2 high BP was linked to increased odds of albuminuria (2.6 times). The study emphasizes the importance of measuring specific salts in water to better understand their health impacts. Salt contamination in freshwater is an emerging global environmental health concern. Source: https://www.ahajournals.org/