Salt Questions · Health & nutrition
How does salt consumption affect bone density?
Short answer
High sodium intake makes the kidneys excrete more calcium in urine, which in theory could weaken bones over time. But the evidence that salt actually lowers bone density or causes fractures is limited and mixed. A 2025 systematic review in postmenopausal women found too few good studies to draw firm conclusions.
Salt increases calcium loss in urine; effects on bones are not well established
The calcium connection
When the kidneys excrete extra sodium, they also excrete more calcium. Studies consistently show higher urinary calcium with higher salt intake. If the body doesn't absorb enough calcium to make up the loss, it may draw on calcium from bone.
What the evidence shows
- Some studies link high salt intake with lower bone density, especially in postmenopausal women.
- Others find no clear effect, and few long-term trials measure fractures.
- A 2025 meta-analysis highlighted the lack of good-quality studies.
Protecting your bones
Get enough calcium and vitamin D, stay active with weight-bearing exercise, and keep sodium within recommended limits, which is good advice for your heart anyway.
Related on The Salt Almanac
More health & nutrition questions
- What happens to your body when you eat too much salt?
- How much sodium is in a teaspoon of table salt?
- What are the signs of a sodium deficiency?
- Why does salt cause water retention and bloating?
- Does drinking water flush out excess sodium?
- What is the recommended daily intake of salt for adults?
Cite this page
For school projects and reports. Teachers often prefer the original sources too: see the list below.
The Salt Almanac. (2026, November 8). How does salt consumption affect bone density. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/how-does-salt-consumption-affect-bone-density
“How does salt consumption affect bone density.” The Salt Almanac, 8 Nov. 2026, saltalmanac.com/answers/how-does-salt-consumption-affect-bone-density. Accessed [today's date].
“How does salt consumption affect bone density.” The Salt Almanac. Last modified November 8, 2026. https://saltalmanac.com/answers/how-does-salt-consumption-affect-bone-density.
Original sources
- High salt intake and bone health in postmenopausal women: exposing the lack of studies. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2025. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1694539/full