A Pantry Swap That Could Significantly Improve Heart and Kidney Health

Table salt is one of the most common ingredients in the kitchen, but the kind you choose may influence more than just taste.

A global study looked at what could happen if countries replaced standard table salt with potassium-enriched salt. Researchers estimated that this simple change might help avert millions of deaths linked to cardiovascular and kidney disease each year.

About the study

Using health data from 193 countries and territories, researchers estimated the possible effects of swapping regular salt for a potassium-enriched alternative.

Instead of running a clinical trial, they used a modeling approach to predict how the diet change could alter disease rates.

They examined several scenarios, including a worldwide switch, replacing only salt used in home cooking, and focusing on people with high blood pressure.

The logic centers on two minerals: many people consume too much sodium and too little potassium, a combination that can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease.

Worldwide, average sodium intake is more than double the recommended limit, while potassium intake remains too low.

A simple salt swap could prevent millions of deaths

If every country adopted potassium-enriched salt, researchers estimated that close to 3 million deaths from cardiovascular and kidney disease could be prevented each year.

The shift could also prevent more than 10 million new cases and reduce nearly 70 million years of healthy life lost to illness or disability.

Partial adoption could still make a difference. Replacing only the salt used in home cooking and seasoning was projected to prevent 1.85 million deaths annually, compared with 1.56 million from swapping salt used in processed and restaurant foods alone.

There is an important caution for people with advanced kidney disease. For them, extra potassium can raise blood potassium levels and increase the risk of hyperkalemia, a potentially dangerous excess of potassium in the blood.

In that group, researchers estimated that the added potassium could contribute to 100,000 deaths each year, while the blood pressure benefits could prevent 750,000.

Those estimates suggest an overall benefit, but they do not mean the change is safe for every person with kidney disease.

The trade-off between risk and benefit depends on kidney function and the body’s ability to regulate potassium. It is also important to note that these are modeled projections, not results from a clinical trial.

What makes potassium-enriched salt different

Potassium-enriched salt looks and functions much like regular table salt, but part of its sodium chloride is replaced with potassium chloride.

A common blend contains 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride, which means less sodium and more potassium in each serving.

Taste does not necessarily have to change much. Research cited in the study found that most people noticed little difference in flavor. In one large long-term trial, 92% of participants were still using the substitute after five years.

How to make the switch safely

When shopping, look for a lower-sodium salt substitute that lists potassium chloride as an ingredient, since products vary.

A few precautions matter:

• Kidney disease: People with advanced kidney disease face a higher risk of hyperkalemia, so they should check with a doctor before switching.
• Certain medications: If you take medicines that affect potassium levels, ask a healthcare provider whether these substitutes are safe for you.
• Overall sodium intake: A salt substitute is not a reason to season more heavily. Processed foods and restaurant meals can still add plenty of sodium.

The takeaway

Regular table salt is not the only option available.

Potassium-enriched salt could help shift the sodium-potassium balance in a healthier direction, with potentially major benefits for heart and kidney health.

Still, more potassium is not always better, especially for people whose kidneys or medications affect how the body handles it.