Exploring the Interplay Between a High Salt Diet, Intestinal Health, and Atherosclerosis

A western diet contains high amounts of salt, which is a known risk factor for heart disease. Previously, salt has been associated with heart disease through an increase in blood pressure. However, a high salt diet can also directly increase inflammatory white blood cells. In my PhD, I discovered that a high salt intake can increase inflammatory white blood cells triggered by the gut which enters the heart and increases heart disease risk. Interestingly, restoring gut health using prebiotics, significantly reduces inflammatory white blood cells and heart disease risk, highlighting an important role the gut plays in salt-related heart disease.