Meta-Analysis Allegedly Links Salt Intake to Increased Risk of Gastric Cancer

A meta-analysis of prospective studies has reportedly concluded that “dietary
salt intake was directly associated with a risk of gastric cancer…, with
progressively increasing risk across consumption levels.” Lanfranco D’Elia,
et al., “Habitual Salt Intake and Risk of Gastric Cancer: A Meta-analysis of
Prospective Studies,” Clinical Nutrition, January 2012. Researchers apparently
conducted a pooled analysis using seven adult-population studies that
provided data from 10 cohorts, as well as additional analyses on “the effect of
salt-rich foods on the rate of gastric cancer.” The meta-analysis overall involved
information from dietary questionnaires completed by 268,718 participants
from four countries.

According to researchers, their findings indicated “a graded positive association between salt consumption and incidence of gastric cancer,” with “high” and “moderately high” salt intake associated with 68 percent and 41 percent “greater risk of gastric cancer, respectively, compared with ‘low’ salt consumption.” In addition, the meta-analysis purportedly revealed “a statistically significant positive association between the consumption of selected salt-rich foods”—such as processed meat—“and rate of gastric cancer.”

Noting that these results “do not conclusively prove a causal relationship
between excessive salt intake and risk of gastric cancer,” the study authors
nevertheless highlighted decreased salt consumption “as a global priority for
a highly cost-effective prevention of the epidemic of cardiovascular disease
both in developed and developing countries.” As a result, they concluded,
“future research should focus on deeper evaluation of the mechanisms of the
observed association and of its actual strength in non oriental populations.”