Embracing salt substitutes could help China prevent 450K CVD deaths per year
![Salt substitutes are associated with a reduced risk of high blood pressure without increasing the risk of low blood pressure, according to new findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.[1]](/sites/default/files/styles/top_stories/public/2018-04/salt-3285024_1920.jpg.webp?itok=cA0aeCky)
Cooking and eating with potassium-enriched salt substitutes can help people reduce their sodium intake, improving their overall cardiovascular health. According to new research published in the British Medical Journal, a nationwide intervention to use such substitutes in China—where hypertension is a massive problem—could help prevent approximately 450,000 cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths annually.
The team also found that such a shift could prevent more than 740,000 non-fatal CVD events annually and decrease new chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases by nearly 7%.
“While potassium intake in China is low, intake of sodium is well above recommended levels, mainly coming from salt used at home, in cooking or at the table,” senior author Jason Wu, PhD, University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, said in a statement. “Salt substitution is therefore a promising strategy to reduce blood pressure and related diseases like CVD and CKD in China, where over two million deaths were attributed to elevated blood pressure in 2015. Our findings suggest that a nationwide intervention to encourage use of potassium-enriched salt substitutes could prevent nearly one in nine CVD deaths in China."
The researchers also noted that there was a potential risk of some citizens developing CKD from the rise in potassium. In China, where the public knows little about this specific condition, it was especially important for the researchers to explore this possible issue. Even when keeping this in mind, however, the team still concluded that the benefits far outweighed any risk.
“The finding of net cardiovascular benefits in those with CKD suggests that encouraging them to avoid potassium-enriched salt substitutes in a national intervention could result in overall harm as they would then miss the benefits of reduced blood pressure,” co-author Matti Marklund, PhD, a senior research fellow at UNSW’s George Institute for Global Health, said in the same statement. “However, alternative approaches like improving screening for CKD and closer monitoring of potassium levels in diagnosed patients should be evaluated to minimize potential risks.”
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.