We have expanded the set of components of diet included from a combined category of fruits and vegetables in the 2000 comparative risk assessment to 15 components in GBD 2010; together these dietary risk factors account for a tenth of global disease burden. Of the dietary risk factors, the aetiological effect sizes for sodium, polyunsaturated fatty acids replacing saturated fatty acids, and seafood omega-3 fatty acids were informed fully (for sodium) or partly by randomised controlled trials. Disease burden attributable to diet high in sodium was a third of that for high blood pressure. The theoretical-minimum-risk exposure distribution was selected on the basis of values reported in randomised trials; studies of populations with low prevalence of cardiovascular disease suggest that benefits are likely to continue to lower levels.158
