A low-salt diet is often recommended for heart failure — but the evidence is lacking

Patients with heart failure are often told to cut down on the amount of salt they consume — but a new review of the evidence finds the benefits still aren't clear. Researchers compiled the data from nine studies that involved a total of 479 participants. They found big gaps in the research — most notably, that none of the studies provided sufficient evidence on whether consuming less salt was associated with a lower risk of stroke, heart attack, or death due to cardiovascular issues. That points to the need for more robust research to clear up whether a smaller salt intake is helpful for heart failure patients.