iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Potassium-enriched salt could significantly reduce the risk of stroke recurrence and death, according to a new international study.
This research aligns with recent recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), which advocates for the use of potassium-enriched salt to combat hypertension and related heart risks.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, with recurrent strokes posing a major concern. High sodium intake and low potassium intake are known risk factors. The study suggests that potassium salt substitutes can significantly lower the risk of stroke recurrence and mortality, offering a novel and practical therapeutic option for stroke patients.
The study, a randomized clinical trial involving 15,249 participants from China who had previously experienced a stroke, compared the effects of a potassium-enriched salt substitute with regular salt. The potassium salt substitute contained 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride by mass.
Published in JAMA Cardiology, the findings revealed that the potassium salt substitute reduced recurrent strokes by 14% compared to the regular salt group.
A total of 2,735 recurrent strokes were recorded, with 691 fatal and 2,044 nonfatal events. Hemorrhagic strokes showed a 30% relative reduction, and stroke-related deaths decreased by 21%.
Importantly, there was no significant difference in the incidence of hyperkalemia (high potassium levels) between the two groups.
The researchers emphasized that this salt substitution was not only safe but also led to reduced risks of stroke recurrence and death, suggesting that scaling up this low-cost intervention could yield significant health benefits for stroke patients worldwide.
The WHO’s recent guidelines also recommend using potassium chloride, or K-salt, as a substitute for regular table salt, which is high in sodium. This shift can help lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of hypertension-related diseases such as cardiovascular conditions and chronic kidney disease. Additionally, it can help lower the risks of other sodium-related conditions like gastric cancer.
According to the WHO, poor diet leads to 8 million deaths annually, with 1.9 million of these attributed to high sodium intake. This underscores the importance of dietary changes, like switching to potassium-enriched salt, to address the global health challenges linked to excessive sodium consumption.
(Photo courtesy: Unsplash)
