Reducing salt consumption lowers blood pressure both in short- and long-term studies (1,2). The effect
is greater among individuals with hypertension than those with normal blood pressure and among African
Americans compared with whites (1-3). However, adherence to reduced sodium regimens has generally been low.
Simple advice provided at health care settings, even when given at every visit, tends to have low effectiveness
(4-7). With intensive counseling, only 20% to 40% of participantsin sodium reduction trials reduce their sodium
intakes to below the recommended upper limit of 2,300 mg/day (100 mmol/day) (7-10).