Salt substitute may lower blood pressure, research claims

The use of a salt substitute can have a significant effect on lowering blood pressure, which can be very beneficial for patients with hypertension, scientists from the George Institute for Global Health found it out.

Their study, conducted in rural India and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that replacing a small portion of the sodium in salt with potassium without altering taste resulted in significant reductions in systolic blood pressure in patients.

It was a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial involving 502 hypertensive patients from 7 villages. Participants were randomized to receive regular salt (100% sodium chloride) or salt substitute (70% sodium chloride / 30% potassium chloride).

The primary outcome was a change in systolic blood pressure after three months in the salt substitute group. Secondary outcomes included changes in diastolic blood pressure, 24-hour urine biomarkers, and self-reported intake and satisfaction with study salts.