1. Blood pressure, body weight and mortality rate were examined in female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Okamoto strain maintained on a lifelong high (5% NaCl w/w) or low (0.1% NaCl w/w) salt diet. 2. A high salt diet increased mortality and decreased body weight in SHR, but failed to significantly alter blood pressure up to 24 months of age. 3. Hence, a low salt diet does not appear to be a long-term risk factor and may protect the SHR from cardiovascular accidents.