Dietary sodium intake and all-cause mortality in rheumatoid arthritis: an NHANES analysis (2003–2018)

The findings of this study demonstrate a negative correlation between increased dietary sodium intake and all-cause mortality risk in patients with RA within a specific range. The threshold analysis identified a breakpoint at a sodium intake of 3.1 g per day, which is equivalent to approximately 7.9 grams of salt, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of 5 grams of salt per day. These findings challenge the prevailing notion that higher sodium intake is always detrimental. This may offer valuable insights for developing dietary guidelines for RA patients.