Dietary Sodium Consumption and 3-Year Progression of Subclinical Arterial Damage in Adults with Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Background/Objectives: Available data regarding associations between sodium (Na) intake and biomarkers of subclinical arterial damage (SAD) are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the possible associations between Na intake and the 3-year progression of SAD in subjects with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Methods: Participants underwent CVD risk assessment, vascular assessment [arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity (PWV), and atheromatosis, as the existence of carotid and/or femoral plaques], anthropometric measurements [at baseline and 3-year follow-up (FU)], and dietary assessment at FU. Results: A total of 675 adults (47.9% males, 55.02 ± 13.79 years) were included. Na daily consumption quartiles (Qs) ranged from very low consumption in Q1 (811.72 ± 241.81 mg) up to twice the recommendations in Q4 (3487.92 ± 1025.92 mg). No statistically significant associations were observed between Na intake and changes in SAD biomarkers, after adjustment for age, sex, presence of hypertension, presence of dyslipidemia, smoking, mean arterial pressure, BMI, chronic inflammatory diseases, and energy intake. The results remained the same, even after the assessment of misreporting and the correction of Na intake. Conclusions: Dietary Na intake was not significantly associated with changes in PWV and carotid or femoral plaques, even in the high Q that was twice as high as the recommended intake. Research in different additional adult cohorts is needed to further investigate whether Na consumption independently affects vascular health.