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. 2005 Oct 19;2005(4):CD005548.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005548.

Altered dietary salt for preventing pre-eclampsia, and its complications

L Duley  1 , D Henderson-Smart, S Meher
Affiliations

Altered dietary salt for preventing pre-eclampsia, and its complications

L Duley et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: In the past, women have been advised that lowering their salt intake might reduce their risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Although this practice has largely ceased, it remains important to assess the evidence about possible effects of altered dietary salt intake during pregnancy.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of altered dietary salt during pregnancy on the risk of developing pre-eclampsia and its complications.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group Trials Register (8 April 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2005), and EMBASE (2002 to May 2005).

Selection criteria: Randomised trials evaluating either reduced or increased dietary salt intake during pregnancy.

Data collection and analysis: Two review authors selected trials for inclusion and extracted data independently. Data were entered on Review Manager software for analysis, and double-checked for accuracy.

Main results: Two trials were included, with 603 women. Both compared advice to reduce dietary salt intake with advice to continue a normal diet. The confidence intervals were wide and crossed the no-effect line for all the reported outcomes, including pre-eclampsia (relative risk 1.11, 95% confidence interval 0.46 to 2.66). In other words, there was insufficient evidence for reliable conclusions about the effects of advice to reduce dietary salt.

Authors' conclusions: In the absence of evidence that advice to alter salt intake during pregnancy has any beneficial effect for prevention of pre-eclampsia or any other outcome, salt consumption during pregnancy should remain a matter of personal preference.

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Conflict of interest statement

None known.

Figures

1.1
1.1. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 1 Gestational hypertension.
1.2
1.2. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 2 Pre‐eclampsia.
1.3
1.3. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 3 Visit to day care unit.
1.4
1.4. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 4 Antenatal hospital admission.
1.5
1.5. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 5 Placental abruption.
1.6
1.6. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 6 Caesarean section.
1.7
1.7. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 7 Perinatal death.
1.8
1.8. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 8 Small‐for‐gestational age.
1.9
1.9. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 9 Preterm birth.
1.10
1.10. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 10 Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes.
1.11
1.11. Analysis
Comparison 1 Low versus normal salt intake in pregnancy, Outcome 11 Admission to neonatal intensive care unit.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

References to studies included in this review

Netherlands 1997 {published data only}
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Netherlands 1998 {published data only}
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References to studies excluded from this review

Australia 1986a {published data only}
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Australia 1986b {published data only}
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UK 1958 {published data only}
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References to studies awaiting assessment

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Duley 1995
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