High-Salt Diet Gets Involved in Gastrointestinal Diseases through the Reshaping of Gastroenterological Milieu

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are known to be largely influenced by one's lifestyle and dietary uptake. A high-salt diet (HSD) is well recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular complications, hypertension, and metabolic syndromes. However, the relationship between an HSD and the GI system, which is the compartment that comes in direct contact with exogenous stimulants, has not been fully explored.

Aims: We seek to better understand the complexity of the pathogenic effects of an HSD in the context of GI disorders.

Methods: By searching the PubMed and Web of science, the review of literature was performed using keywords: high-salt and GI, high-salt and immunity, salt and microbiota, salt and hormone.

Results: In this review, we concluded that high-salt intake potentially perturbs the local immune homeostasis, alters the gut microbiota composition and function, and affects the endocrine hormone profiling in the GI system.

Conclusion: HSD might get involved in GI diseases through the reshaping of gastroenterological milieu, which could help to better understand the complexity of the pathogenic effects of an HSD in the context of GI disorders.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal disorders; Gastrointestinal milieu; Gut immunity; High-salt diet; Microbiota.