Eating Salty Foods Increases the Risk of This Disease [Health Issue]

[Financial News] A recent study found that the habit of frequently adding salt to meals increases the risk of hearing loss.
On the 15th, a research team led by Professor Jung Da-jeong from the Department of Otolaryngology at Kyungpook National University Hospital (KNUH) revealed for the first time in the world, using large-scale population cohort data from the UK Biobank, that the habit of frequently adding salt to food raises the risk of hearing loss.
The research team conducted a long-term follow-up study on approximately 490,000 adults aged 40 to 69.
Participants answered a lifestyle questionnaire about how much salt they added to their food, and were divided into four groups: 'always,' 'usually,' 'sometimes,' and 'rarely.'
The team compared the incidence of hearing loss among these groups and further analyzed differences according to age (under 60 or over 60), gender, and the presence of Diabetes mellitus or Hypertension.
The results showed that people who always added salt to their meals had about a 23% higher risk of developing hearing loss compared to those who rarely did.
This association was particularly pronounced among younger individuals under 60, men, and those without Diabetes mellitus or Hypertension.
Professor Jung stated, "This study demonstrates that salt intake habits can influence the development of hearing loss. It is significant for public health, as it suggests that simple dietary improvements may help preserve hearing."
The hospital commented, "This is the first study to provide causal evidence between salt intake frequency and the risk of hearing loss based on the world’s largest cohort data, making it academically and clinically meaningful."
Meanwhile, the results of this study can be found in the latest issue of the international journal The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging.
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Su-yeon Reporter