Consuming too much salt can up your cancer risk by 40%, study finds

A recent study from the Center for Public Health at the University of Vienna could give you pause before reaching for the salt at your next meal.

Researchers found that individuals in the UK who frequently added salt to their meals had a 41 percent higher risk of developing stomach cancer compared to those who used salt sparingly.

While prior research in China, Japan, and Korea has connected a high-salt diet with stomach cancer, this study is among the first to establish the link in Western populations.

While the Austrian study was purely observational, previous research has indicated that excessive salt intake could potentially weaken the protective lining of the stomach, resulting in tissue damage and potentially cancerous changes.

'Our research shows the connection between the frequency of added salt and stomach cancer in Western countries too,' lead author Selma Kronsteiner-Gicevic, a nutritionist at University of Vienna said, as quoted by Daily Mail.

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The recommended daily salt intake might surprise many people. According to the FDA, it's advised to consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium daily, which roughly equates to about one teaspoon of table salt.

However, due to the prevalence of salt in various food items and the habit of adding additional salt, the average American typically consumes around 3,400 mg per day, as reported by the agency. For instance, a single can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup contains approximately 890 mg of salt.

While adding a bit of salt for flavor may seem harmless, consistently exceeding recommended limits could pose health risks, the researchers noted.

To arrive at these findings, researchers from the University of Vienna analyzed data from the UK Biobank, which included 471,144 adults in the United Kingdom. Over an 11-year period, they found that individuals who frequently added salt to their meals were 41 percent more likely to develop stomach cancer compared to those who rarely did so.

This correlation remained significant even after accounting for other factors such as age, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle choices like alcohol and tobacco use.

Drinking alcohol and smoking can greatly increase your chances of getting stomach cancer, says the American Cancer Society. They predict about 26,890 new cases of stomach cancer in the U.S. for 2024, with around 10,880 people dying from it.

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If caught early, stomach cancer has a good chance of being treated - someone with early stomach cancer is 75 percent as likely as someone without cancer to live for five years, according to the NIH. But if it's already spread, that chance drops to 35 percent.

Stomach cancer can develop without you noticing as its symptoms are easy to miss. Early signs like feeling bloated, having an upset stomach, or indigestion can be mistaken for just feeling full after a big meal.

(With inputs from agencies)