SALT FOR FATIGUE

Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 2

SALT FOR FATIGUE

REGENT RESEARCH WORK The possibility that persons suffering from unexplained fatigue may be considerably benefited by taking an extra tablespoonful of common salt daily is referred to in a note in the new issue of the ‘ Practitioner.’ Much recent research work on salt has shown on the one hand that deprivation of this substance leads to a state of extreme prostration, and, on the other, that patients suffering from a rare malady called “ Addison’s disease ” (in which the suprarenal gland is affected) gain strength from taking extra salt daily. Certain investigations indicate that there is a form of fatigue resembling that of “ Addison’s disease.” “ The chief complaint,” runs the report, “ of the investigator’s patients has been weakness, easy fatigue, disinclination for physical activity, no feeling of recovery after a sound night’s sleep, increased nervousness and irritability.” With some patients pain over the heart, palpitation, and even breathlessness on exertion have all been noted. Most of the eubjects were in the twenties or thirties, and one constant finding in them all has been a low level of salt in the blood. An increase of about one teaspoonful daily of the patient’s usual ration of salt has been followed, it is stated, in four to five days by complete relief of the symptoms. Conversely, deprivation of this extra salt is followed after a like period of time by a reappearance of the symptoms. Usually the patients gained about 21b in weight during the first fortnight of treatment, but there was no further gain. No relapse was experienced as long as the extra salt was continued.