Ingesting salt supplements

RMA Definition

Salt supplement is defined by the RMA as salt added to food when cooking or eating, or salt contained in salt tablets.

Salt and food

A small amount of salt occurs naturally in many foods but the addition of salt to food varies greatly according to individual taste.

In a service context, food was not salted more heavily during preparation than was the case in civilian life.  The addition of salt when eating food was a matter of personal taste.

Non dietary salt

Salt tablets may be taken to replace sodium chloride lost from the body through severe sweating due to:

• environmental factors such as high temperature and/or humidity
• physical activity.

In the Defence Forces, salt supplements were provided in circumstances where humidity was high or the heat caused significant water loss.

Last reviewed for CCPS 12 March 2008.

Investigative Documents

Preliminary questions [9002]

30230  there is some evidence that ingesting salt supplements may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

26525  the veteran has established the causal connection between ingesting salt supplements and VEA service for hypertension.

26526   the veteran has established the causal connection between ingesting salt supplements and VEA service for the clinical onset of hypertension.

9028    the veteran has established the causal connection between ingesting salt supplements and operational service for the clinical onset of hypertension.

or

26528  the veteran has established the causal connection between ingesting salt supplements and eligible service for the clinical onset of hypertension.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

26527   the veteran has established the causal connection between ingesting salt supplements and VEA service for the clinical worsening of hypertension.

26529  the veteran has established the causal connection between ingesting salt supplements and operational service for the clinical worsening of hypertension.

or

26530  the veteran has established the causal connection between ingesting salt supplements and eligible service for the clinical worsening of hypertension.

Clinical onset and operational service [9028]

26532 the veteran ingested at least 12 grams (200 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months.

26533 the veteran ingested at least 12 grams (200 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

9033   the veteran's operational service made a material contribution to the veteran's ingestion of at least 12 grams (200 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical onset and eligible service [26528]

26537 the veteran ingested at least 15 grams (250 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months.

26538 the veteran ingested at least 15 grams (250 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

26539 the veteran's eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran's ingestion of at least 15 grams (250 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

Clinical worsening and operational service [26529]

26532 the veteran ingested at least 12 grams (200 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months.

26542 the veteran ingested at least 12 grams (200 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

26543 the veteran's operational service made a material contribution to the veteran's ingestion of at least 12 grams (200 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

Clinical worsening and eligible service [26530]

26537 the veteran ingested at least 15 grams (250 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months.

26546 the veteran ingested at least 15 grams (250 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

26547 the veteran's eligible service made a material contribution to the veteran's ingestion of at least 15 grams (250 mmol) of salt supplements per day on average for a continuous period of at least 6 months immediately before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.