The Ongoing Sodium Controversy: Between PURE and NutriCode

The impact of sodium intake on cardiovascular health has long been a subject of controversial debates. On the one hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have argued for a target of 1500-2000 mg of sodium per day (4-5 g sodium chloride daily). On the other hand, this recommendation has been accompanied by a growing body of criticism. Recently, the results of the PURE and the NutriCode study have flared up the “salt controversy”. Actually, the results of the PURE study seem to strengthen the position of those who have called into question the AHA and WHO guidelines for daily sodium intake whereas those who recommend a considerable salt reduction believe that the NutriCode study confirm their conviction. In this paper, the results of the PURE and NutriCode study will be discussed and evaluated with regard to practical consequences.