Dietary intake of minerals in the patients with stroke

BACKGROUND: Experimental studies provide evidence of a relationship between stroke and mineral intake but this information in human are still limited and inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate sodium, calcium and iron intake and stroke in Iranian patient and control population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a case-control study with 46 stroke men (aged 56 ± 18 years) and stroke women (aged 52 ± 7 years) and 60 healthy people, we investigated the sodium, calcium and iron intake inthe patients. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, sex and cardiovascular disease we found that a high sodium intake was associated with a statistically significant higher risk of stroke (P < 0/05). We saw a significant association between iron intakes in men (P < 0/05). And calcium was not significant associated with risk of stroke (P for trend >0/05). CONCLUSION: These findings in men and women suggest that a low sodium intake may play a role in primary prevention of stroke.