Does dietary sodium intake in persons with CKD affect their health outcomes?
Yes, dietary sodium intake in persons with CKD can affect their health outcomes. Studies have shown that there is an inconsistency between the studies examining the relationship of dietary sodium intake with health outcomes in persons with diabetes.45,46,85 Additional research is required to investigate the consistency of effects of dietary sodium changes on health benefits and harms across different causes and severities of CKD. It is also unknown if there is a minimum dietary sodium level in CKD below which health risks are increased. Most of these data derive from studies evaluating sodium intake using spot urine sodium measurements. There is current controversy about the accuracy of assessing sodium intake using random spot urine specimens, and potential increased risk of adverse health outcomes at the low-sodium intake range when assessed by this method.86 Additional research is required in both sodium-intake assessment methodology in CKD, and to evaluate the health impacts of very low-sodium intakes in CKD populations.