If you ’re confused by competing medium report on salt ’s safety , you ’re not alone . investigation into the health effects of salt are as polarized as the water molecule thatdissolve sodium chloride . An depth psychology of 269 study on the subject shows we ’re a very long way from settling the question of whether salt is a wellness risk for most of the universe .
There is cosmopolitan agreement that some people badly need to decoct their table salt consumption , or risk dangerously raised blood air pressure . What remains in dispute , however , is whether this is also true for the population as a whole . Bodies as august as the World Health Organization ( WHO ) and the U.S. National Academies of Science have taken contradictory situation . Some take low Strategic Arms Limitation Talks intake to be a concern of its own .
Little advancement seems to have been made in resolving this interrogative sentence . In theInternational Journal of Epidemiologya team of researchers including doctorial studentDavid Johnsof Columbia University examined finding on the topic , including main subject area and systemic followup , along with clinical guidelines and statements by medical group .
Johns run back to 1979 for these , but more than one-half were write after 2011 , indicating a rising pastime in the subject . Moreover , while a majority tolerate the hypothesis that high saltiness intake is a menace for all of us , this was a barely consuming 54 percent . On the other hand , 33 per centum concluded only a nonage of us postulate to moderate our salt intake . Thirteen pct produced inconclusive results .
The disturbing aspect is that the two opposing grouping were failing to engage with each other , instead conduct like two population on societal medium that partake in instruction and memes they agree with , barely even hearing the other side . “ Reports were 1.51 time more probable to abduce reports that drew a similar conclusion , than to cite reports draw a different conclusion , ” the paper tone , despite the potential for citations to be used to criticise as well as endorse . Only some of this could be explain through researchers preferentially summons their own work or that of joint author .
Probably do n’t wipe out this much . Kasikun_Kamol / Shutterstock
" There are two almost distinct body of erudition – one supporting and one opposing the claim that salt step-down in populations will improve clinical outcomes , " Johns enjoin in astatement . " Each is drive by a few prolific writer who lean to refer other investigator who share their point of aspect , with slight apparent collaboration between the two sides . ' "
“ Although skill has been sapiently brisk to likely financial fight of interest in late ten , much less attention has been paid to other potential conflict – particularly diagonal that are engraft in long - held beliefs , ” the paper observes .
The discipline may encourage the two sides of this debate to engage with each others ' grounds . Moreover , Johns and his joint author write , “ To our knowledge , our analytical approach is novel as it allows an empirical quantification of such polarisation . ” They suggested their method may prove utile for survey of other areas where scientists stay on to differ , such as on the harms and profit ofelectronic cigarettes .
