The Study
Effect of dietary sodium restriction on blood pressure in type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
This study looked at many smaller experiments where people with type 2 diabetes ate less salt and found that, on average, their blood pressure went down. But we didn’t see the full details of those experiments, so we can’t be 100% sure it was the salt that caused the drop — just that it’s likely.
Analysis score
Maximum 100 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at 10 studies where people with type 2 diabetes ate less salt and found their blood pressure went down.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 533 / 100
Quality score
The highest quality evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses that pool randomized controlled trials, giving the most reliable summary of experimental evidence.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — a 5.57 mm Hg drop in systolic pressure is clinically meaningful and similar to effects seen with some blood pressure medications.
- 2Salt intake dropped by 38.43 mmol/day; systolic blood pressure fell by 5.57 mm Hg; diastolic blood pressure fell by 1.68 mm Hg.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD
Year
2021
Authors
Jing-yi Ren, Liqiang Qin, Xiang Li, R. Zhao, Zhixing Wu, Yuxia Ma
Related Content
Claims (4)
Cutting down on salt can lower your blood pressure, and the more salt you cut, the more your blood pressure drops—especially if it was already high to begin with.
When people with type 2 diabetes eat less salt, their blood pressure tends to go down in a similar way across different studies — it’s not all over the place.
Cutting back on salt in your diet can lower your blood pressure a bit—about 5.6 points for the top number and 1.7 points for the bottom number—if you have type 2 diabetes.
If people with type 2 diabetes eat less salt, their bodies pee out about 38 millimoles less sodium in a day, which means they’re actually following the low-salt diet.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.