Evidence supporting the use of: Salt (unspecified)
For the health condition: Dehydration
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 5
Salt, specifically sodium chloride, has strong scientific validation for use in the treatment and prevention of dehydration. Dehydration often involves a loss of both water and essential electrolytes, particularly sodium, from the body. When individuals lose fluids due to diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, or other causes, they also lose significant amounts of sodium, which is crucial for maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle contraction.
The cornerstone of medical management for dehydration, particularly in cases related to diarrhea (such as in cholera or other gastrointestinal diseases), is oral rehydration therapy (ORT). ORT solutions are based on a precise combination of salt (sodium chloride), glucose, and water. Decades of research have shown that the co-transport of sodium and glucose across the intestinal wall greatly enhances water absorption, which is the physiological basis for ORT’s effectiveness. The World Health Organization and UNICEF endorse oral rehydration solutions containing salt as a first-line treatment for dehydration worldwide.
Numerous clinical trials and systematic reviews have demonstrated that ORT dramatically reduces mortality and morbidity from dehydration, especially in children. The evidence supporting salt’s role in rehydration is robust and widely accepted in modern medicine. Use of salt alone without water or in excessive amounts is not appropriate; the therapeutic benefit is in the controlled combination found in ORT formulas.
Other health conditions supported by salt (unspecified)
Addison's DiseaseAthlete's Foot
Cholera
Cold Sores
Dehydration
Goiter
Hangover
Hypotension