home
salt suppliers
about
salt
de-icing
salt
& health
press
office
 releases
key facts
features
interviews
photos
contacts
research
links
contact
 |
8/07/2008
The Salt Association today issued a warning to those who habitually overdose on water following the tragic death of a man who died after depleting the vital salt levels in his body.
An inquest in Halifax heard that Andrew Thornton, 44, overloaded his body after drinking ten litres of water in eight hours to relieve painful gums. The resulting dilution of his salt reserves led to swelling in the brain and, even though doctors put salt back into his body, he failed to recover. The coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.
His death is one of several in the UK over recent months caused by the condition known as hyponatraemia. It is a particular threat to those who drink large quantities of water when they exercise and dilute the salt levels in their blood as a result. At the other extreme, older people can be at serious risk from hyponatraemia in hot weather if they follow Government advice to reduce their salt intake while also drinking more water.
The Salt Association’s general secretary, Peter Sherratt, said today: “We are told that drinking more water is important but it is all too easy to go overboard and forget that if you overdose you may actually be putting your life at risk.
“We each have a cupful of salt in our bodies at any time and it is doing a vital job in keeping us alive. The sodium it contains is an electrolyte that helps maintain the fluid balance in our blood cells and transmits electrical impulses between our brain, nerves, and muscles.”
He added: “There is a danger that in issuing widely disputed blanket advice to cut back on salt, the Government is failing to make people aware that it is also a product that keeps us alive.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- The Salt Association (previously the Salt Manufacturers’ Association) is the trade association representing UK manufacturers of salt, including domestic salt, catering salt, water-softening salt, industrial salt and de-icing salt. More detail on its stance on the health issue can be found at www.saltsense.co.uk.
- A string of experts across the world have questioned the UK government’s blanket advice on salt intake, including:
- 1Professor Ingo Fusgen, University of Witten-Herdecke in Germany. Studies show that up to 10 per cent of older people suffer from sodium deficiency. http://www.saltsense.co.uk/documents/IFusgen-Disordersofwaterandsodiummetabolisminolderpatients.PDF
- Nutrition expert Dr David McCarron, whose research suggests that mineral deficiency rather than salt consumption is one of the most important influences upon high blood pressure.
- Professor Ron Maughan, sports scientist at Loughborough University. He researched sweating tendencies of footballers at premier clubs and found that some could lose up to 10g of salt in a single training session. He has said: “Sweating is a highly individual issue. If people are salty sweaters, this may make them more vulnerable to muscle cramps. It is absolutely clear that the government’s blanket advice is not appropriate and could indeed be harmful to some people. Whilst my research concentrated on high performance athletes, it could well have relevance for anyone who exercises hard or sweats heavily during the course of their work or on holiday in a hot climate.”
- Leading British physiologist Professor Bill Keatinge has found that, in unacclimatized elderly subjects, the risk of heart attack or stroke is increased by salt depletion during a heatwave. He suggests that they should be strongly advised not to reduce their salt intake in summer or when holidaying in warmer climates.
- Professor Deiderick Grobbee, cardiovascular specialist from the Netherlands and author of the Rotterdam. Tested 8,000 people in their 50s+ and found that as long as their salt intake was no more than 16g a day, there was an insignificant effect on blood pressure.
- For further information on the Salt Association's stance on salt and health, please visit the press office at www.saltsense.co.uk. The media resources available there also include downloadable photographs.
|
|
