In fact, recent studies suggest that there may be an unexpected connection between salty food and sadness. This conclusion was the surprising result of an experiment on mice. The investigation of the accident lasted from five to eight weeks. The researchers then looked at what happened to mice on regular diets vs high-salt diets. Though the results are promising, researchers underscore the importance of not jumping to conclusions regarding potential benefits for humans.
Robert Hostoffer, DO, is a board member of the American Osteopathic Association. Yet, he was quick to indicate that he is not in the study. He noted the difficulties built into the process of translating animal test results to humans. As far as predicting human response, he said, it’s always difficult to interpret data from mouse studies. This challenge comes from the vast differences in their immune system’s nomenclature, specifically soluble and nonsoluble factors.
In their study, they administered an anti-γδTCR antibody to deplete γδT cells. This method revealed a novel biological mechanism that may underlie the connection between high salt consumption and depression. Experts agree that much more research is needed to figure out how these findings could translate to humans.
Health-based dietary guidelines provide an unambiguous standard worldwide for sodium consumption. In fact, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise that all healthy adults eat no more than 2,300 mg of sodium each day. That’s about the size of one teaspoon of salt. Foods can only be labeled as ‘low-sodium’ if they have 140 mg of sodium or fewer per serving. Karen Z. Berg, MS, RD, CSO, CDN, asked for our future dietitians and nutritionists to dig deep into food labels. As for her own role in the research…
“The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that healthy adults limit their sodium to 2,300 mg [milligrams] per day. That may sound like a lot, but it’s the equivalent of about 1 teaspoon of salt! It is important to look at all labels to see how much sodium you’re consuming,” – Karen Z. Berg, MS, RD, CSO, CDN.
High sodium intake is especially dangerous for those with preexisting health conditions. Berg noted that high salt intake can worsen existing heart and kidney problems. Too much sodium is extremely harmful to our heart and kidneys. She recommended that people who have heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or fatty liver should reduce their sodium intake. This exacting focus makes sure that their conditions don’t deteriorate.
The study’s implications extend beyond dietary recommendations. Berg noted that the results in mice are encouraging. Still, they argue, it is high time to investigate how lowering dietary salt might affect human depression. Though these findings were only in mice, they provide a path forward for more research. We would like to study the role of salt restriction on depression in humans,” she said. But she warned that depression is more complicated because it’s affected by many other factors.
“In addition to dietary salt restriction, this study identified that new treatments targeting IL-17A or gamma-delta T cells may also be targets for pharmacologic management of depression. The study provides a biological explanation for the association between high salt intake and depression, identifying new targets for potential treatments,” – Karen Z. Berg, MS, RD, CSO, CDN.
Increased risk of depression or anxiety High-salt diets can increase risk of potential mental health concerns. This underscores the urgency to advance our understanding of how nutrition is associated with health disparities.
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