Scientists at Amsterdam UMC have provided the first direct evidence that dietary salt triggers inflammatory responses in humans. Beyond raising blood pressure, salt now proven to exacerbate arteriosclerosis by intensifying inflammation within blood vessels.
In a controlled study with healthy volunteers, participants followed either a low-salt or high-salt diet. Researchers observed elevated blood pressure on the high-salt regimen, alongside increased white blood cells in skin tissue—a hallmark of active inflammation.
High salt intake also reprogrammed white blood cells, enabling them to more readily penetrate blood vessel walls toward inflamed sites while secreting higher levels of pro-inflammatory substances, amplifying these reactions.
Arteriosclerosis involves the buildup of fats and inflammatory cells in vessel walls, progressively narrowing arteries as inflammation escalates.
