In several animal species, including chimpanzees, diets with added sodium result in increased blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular disease
In some of the animal models, increased dietary sodium directly causes inflammation and vascular, cardiac and renal target organ damage independent of BP
Increased dietary sodium is a procarcinogen for gastric cancer in animals studied and is a probable procarcinogen in humans, is associated with renal cancer, recurrent kidney stones, increased severity of multiple sclerosis with new plaque formation, osteoporosis, and Meniere’s disease