Potassium Salt as Sodium Alternative : Experts Urge Promotion of Potassium Salt as Safer Sodium Alternative to Mitigate Heart Risks

New Delhi, Jan 29 (NationPress) Potassium salt presents a viable alternative to sodium and deserves promotion, experts stated on Wednesday in response to a new recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding potassium-enriched salt aimed at tackling hypertension and associated heart issues.

According to the WHO’s latest guideline, the use of K-salt or potassium chloride is advised over conventional table salt, which is high in sodium. This substitution may help mitigate noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and chronic kidney disease by lowering blood pressure.

Additionally, it reduces the likelihood of other conditions linked to excessive sodium consumption, including gastric cancer. The WHO reports that annually, 80 lakh individuals succumb to poor dietary habits, with 19 lakh of those deaths directly related to high sodium intake.

“Elevated sodium levels correlate with increased blood pressure, leading to long-term hypertension and heart disease,” stated Dr. Harshal R Salve, Additional Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS, New Delhi, during an interview with IANS.

The WHO guidelines emphasize reducing sodium consumption to under 2 grams daily, equivalent to approximately 5 grams of salt. The organization also recommends eliminating table salt to further decrease sodium intake and encourages a partial replacement of table salt with potassium.

The guidelines offer evidence-based recommendations for using lower-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS). These substitutes serve as alternatives to standard salt for both discretionary uses, such as adding salt while cooking or dining, and non-discretionary uses as ingredients in manufactured foods and dishes provided in restaurants and other dining establishments.

These alternatives are also utilized in sodium-laden condiments, such as soy sauce and fish sauce, which are prevalent discretionary sources of dietary sodium in various countries. These alternative salts typically contain less sodium than conventional salt and often incorporate potassium chloride (KCl) alone or with other agents to create a flavor comparable to standard salt.

By substituting some sodium with KCl, benefits may arise compared to ordinary salt, in addition to the sodium-reducing effect, as the WHO advocates for increased potassium consumption from food sources to lower blood pressure and the risk of CVDs.

“LSSS, such as potassium, should be promoted as a suitable alternative,” Salve noted, adding that “a more regulatory approach is needed to scale this up, particularly regarding packaged food products.”

However, the new recommendation does not pertain to women, children, or individuals with kidney conditions, as insufficient data exists to support the use of potassium-based salts in these demographics.

Prof. Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health India, urged that “making low-sodium, potassium-enriched salts affordable and readily available” would aid in “combating the rising issues of hypertension and heart and kidney diseases in India, especially in rural regions.”

Jha also highlighted the necessity of generating evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of salt substitutes in specific populations, such as those suffering from kidney ailments.

Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of LSSS with potassium, as excessively high blood potassium levels (hyperkalaemia) can be detrimental, particularly to individuals with compromised kidney functions.

The WHO acknowledged that “systematic reviews of existing evidence on the health impacts of LSSS intake are crucial.”