Nocturia - a condition that makes people take numerous trips to the toilet at nighttime - may be caused by dietary habits, a new study has found.
Researchers from the Nagasaki University in Japan have linked frequent nocturnal urination to a high sodium intake. Their conclusions, presented last weekend at the European Society of Urology congress in London, suggest the solution to this uncomfortable problem may be easily at hand.
As study author Dr. Matsuo Tomohiro explains, "a simple dietary modification might significantly improve the quality of life for many people," who only need to cut back on salt consumption to avoid being glued to the toilet all night long.
His study is the first to explore the connection between salt intake and the frequent need to use the bathroom, and additional research is needed to verify his findings.
What Causes Nocturia?
According to the National Sleep Foundation, nocturia is typically present in older people, affecting more than 50 percent of seniors over 50. Most of them get up to use the facilities at least twice every night, ending up with sleep problems, tiredness, irritability, and stress.
The onset of nocturia is particularly distressing not only because it disrupts a good night's rest (leading to sleep-related conditions, like apnea), but also because it usually signals an underlying health problem, such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.
Previously associated with hormonal changes, nocturia is not just a side effect of old age, but also the result of everyday lifestyle, as Tomohiro's study indicates.
Professor Marcus Drake, a nocturia expert from the University of Bristol, disclosed that, until now, urologists only examined potential bladder deficiencies, prostate problems, or water intake before bedtime to account for their patients' increased urine production at night. No one thought to look into salt consumption and how it can affect nocturnal urination.
With the new study emerging, Drake recognized the importance of every piece of evidence that can shed light on the matter and help medical professionals "consider all influences to get the best chance of improving the symptom."
"This is an important aspect of how patients potentially can help themselves to reduce the impact of frequent urination," he said.
Salt And Nocturnal Urination
Tomohiro's research involved 300 volunteers who unanimously reported high salt intake and sleep-related problems before the study commenced.
The scientists instructed 200 of them to reduce their daily sodium consumption, from 11 grams to 8 grams (0.39 to 0.28 ounces), while 100 study participants were asked to increase their salt intake at night, from 9.6 grams to 11 grams (0.34 ounces to 0.39 ounces). Researchers monitored both groups for three months.
Study results revealed the first group experienced a decrease in urinary frequency during the night, with the number of habitual visits to the bathroom dropping from 2.3 to just 1.4. Reduced salt intake also diminished their need to urinate during the day, with study participants also reporting a considerable increase in their quality of life.
By comparison, people in the second group found that, after eating more salt than usual, their number of nightly trips to the toilet increased, from 2.3 to 2.7 times a night.
As per the American Heart Association's guidelines, daily sodium consumption should not exceed 2.3 grams (0.08 ounces), or about a teaspoon of salt. The recommended intake of table salt, which contains around 40 percent sodium, is 1.5 grams (0.05 ounces) at the most.
