AHA: Salt substitutes help lower blood pressure and improve heart health

Only a small portion of people with high blood pressure use salt substitutes, even though they are a simple and accessible way to reduce sodium intake and improve heart health, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Hypertension develops when blood pressure in the vessels remains consistently high, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other conditions. According to the AHA, nearly half of U.S. adults are affected. One key cause is excessive sodium in the diet combined with insufficient potassium. Salt substitutes address this problem: part of the sodium is replaced with potassium, which helps lower blood pressure.

“Fewer than 6% of adults use salt substitutes, even though it is an inexpensive and effective way to control blood pressure, especially in cases of difficult-to-treat hypertension,” noted lead study author Yinyin Wei from the Southwest Medical Center at the University of Texas.

Researchers analyzed data from a national health and nutrition survey from 2003–2020, covering more than 37,000 people. They found that the use of salt substitutes remained consistently low: at most 5.4% in 2013–2014, dropping to 2.5% by 2020.

Even among people for whom these products are medically appropriate, only 2–5% used them—more often patients already taking antihypertensive medication.

“Even among people with uncontrolled or untreated high blood pressure, most continue to use regular salt,” Wei emphasized.

Specialists call this a missed opportunity. “It’s a simple way to improve blood pressure that is hardly used,” said cardiologist Amit Khera.

Experts also note that most dietary sodium comes not from the home salt shaker but from processed foods and restaurant meals. The AHA recommends limiting sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day, ideally 1,500 mg.

However, salt substitutes are not suitable for everyone. Due to their potassium content, they can be dangerous for people with kidney disease or those taking certain medications, so medical consultation is necessary before use.

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