Day 252 - 20 May 96 - Page 41


     
     1   Q.   Right, but, at the moment, there is less evidence for the
     2        potassium?
     3        A.   There is less evidence because very much less work has
     4        been done on that topic.
     5   Q.   Right, OK.  Anyway 6.6.8:
     6
     7        "Conclusion:  Sodium intake appears to be an important
     8        determinant of blood pressure in the population as a whole
     9        at least partly by influencing the rise in blood pressure
    10        with age.  Although the quantitative degree of sensitivity
    11        sought is still unclear, it appears to be greater with
    12        increasing age and higher initial blood pressure,  and
    13        contributes to the quantitatively more important effects of
    14        obesity and alcohol intake.  A diet lower in common salt
    15        and higher in potassium would be expected to result in
    16        lower blood pressure and to a smaller rise in blood
    17        pressure with age."
    18
    19        You would agree with?
    20        A.  Yes, I would agree with that.
    21
    22   Q.   And 6.6.9:
    23
    24        "The predominant source of salt in the UK diet is
    25        manufactured foods (estimated at about 65-85 percent of the
    26        total).  Therefore whilst some reduction of salt intake can
    27        be made by reducing salt in cooking or added the table, at
    28        least a greater potential effect would be possible from
    29        reducing the salt content of manufactured foods."
    30
    31        You would accept that would you?
    32        A.   Yes.
    33
    34   Q.   Right.  Then 6.6.10:
    35
    36        "Recommendations: In order to reduce the population's
    37        average blood pressure (and particularly the rise in blood
    38        pressure with age) as well the numbers of people requiring
    39        anti-hypertensive medication or at high risk of CHD and
    40        stroke, the diet should contain less sodium, principally
    41        from vegetables and fruits.  An average reduction of 50mmol
    42        sodium/day (3g salt/day), has been estimated to result in
    43        an average sodium reduction in systolic blood pressure of
    44        about 3,3 mmHG.  A larger effect would be likely to be seen
    45        over the longer term as the rise in blood pressure with age
    46        was also reduced.  We would recommend the gradual reduction
    47        in average sodium intake by the average population to about
    48        100 mmol a day (6g of salt/day), and an increase in
    49        potassium intake to about 90 mmol a day (3.5 gramme/day)."
    50 
    51        You would you agree with that, would you? 
    52        A.  Yes, that seems very sensible. 
    53
    54   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Is it possible to give me some idea of
    55        quantities?  I mean, if I took a flat teaspoon of salt of
    56        soft sodium chloride, what would that weigh?
    57        A.   A flat teaspoonful would probably be about 4 grammes.
    58
    59   MR. MORRIS:   On the subject of the Recommendations, that is the
    60        recommended average population, but people who are at a

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