Diseases & Conditions
Using a salt substitute can lower risk of developing high blood pressure
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
The study involved 609 adults ages 55 and older (average age 71, 26% women) who lived in care facilities in China. All had normal blood pressure at the study's start. Participants were split into two groups: 298 continued to use table salt, while 313 used a salt substitute consisting of 62.5% sodium chloride, 25% potassium chloride, and 12.5% flavorings. Over the following two years, participants in the salt-substitute group were 40% less likely to develop high blood pressure than peers who continued using regular salt.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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