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
