Spot urine samples should not be used to examine sodium‐disease relationships

Published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension on 10 September 2020, Peterson et al. conducted a systematic review on the use of spot urine samples to examine sodium-disease relationships. As part of the Science of Salt series of regularly updated reviews, this study critically appraised relevant studies from November 2018 to August 2019. Only two studies met the methodological criteria for detailed critical appraisal, a post-hoc analysis of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) sodium trial and a post-trial analysis of the Trials of Hypertension, which the authors suggest highlights a lack of new methodologically-sound studies examining sodium-disease relationships. The review found further evidence of the detrimental health effects of high sodium intake. Additionally, authors found that estimates of sodium intake based on spot urine samples are inaccurate and inappropriate to use when looking at disease associations, as these estimates changed the linearity of associations. To access the full text article, click here.