[Sodium restriction in heart failure: where are the data?]

Abstract

Mahtani et al. review the evidence for sodium restriction in heart failure. The paucity of solid studies is striking, but deplorably in line with the paucity of high-quality studies on lifestyle management in general. One hard endpoint study (Sodium-HF) is underway. Promising results were obtained in the GOURMET study, which integrated sodium restriction into a broader nutritional approach that simultaneously targeted malnutrition, a major problem in heart failure. Targeting overall nutritional status - rather than single nutrients - matches current trends in nutrition guidelines, and deserves further exploration. Using fresh products and avoiding processed foods is the main step towards an overall healthier diet with less sodium. Dietary improvement, with its clinical benefit, is feasible in most patients by means of adequate support and feedback. Hopefully, the emergence of 'lifestyle medicine' will, with clinical and scientific effort, allow for the health potential of nutrition to be translated into clinical benefit for patients.