Evidence supporting the use of: Salt
For the health condition: Hypotension

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4

Salt (sodium chloride) is scientifically validated as a treatment for certain forms of hypotension (low blood pressure), especially in cases such as orthostatic hypotension and adrenal insufficiency. The rationale lies in sodium’s physiological role: sodium increases extracellular fluid volume by promoting water retention, which in turn raises blood pressure. Clinical guidelines, including those from the American Autonomic Society, recommend increased dietary salt and fluid intake as first-line non-pharmacological interventions for orthostatic hypotension. Several studies have demonstrated that higher salt intake can significantly increase blood pressure in individuals with low baseline blood pressure or autonomic dysfunction, although the effect is less pronounced in healthy individuals.

Salt supplementation is commonly prescribed in specific conditions such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), Addison’s disease, and other causes of volume-depletion hypotension. However, it is not universally recommended for all hypotensive patients, as excessive sodium intake poses cardiovascular risks, particularly in patients with heart or kidney disease. The evidence supporting salt’s efficacy in increasing blood pressure in hypotensive individuals is robust, with multiple clinical trials and consensus guidelines supporting its use in selected populations. In summary, salt’s use for hypotension is grounded in well-understood physiological mechanisms and supported by clinical research, although it must be applied judiciously based on individual patient profiles.

More about salt
More about Hypotension

Products containing salt

We currently have no products on Caring Sunshine that contain this ingredient.