Salt Substitute Use Remains Lowโ Despite Blood Pressure Benefits, Study Finds
Despite being a simple and possibly effective strategy for managing hypertension, salt substitutes โare rarely used by Americans, new research reveals. Presented Thursday at an American Heart Association meeting โin Baltimore, the study indicates that less than 6% of โU.S. adults incorporate these alternatives into their diets.
Yinying Wei,a doctoral candidate in โapplied clinical research and hypertension at UT Southwestern Medical โฃCenter in Dallas,explained that salt substitutes replaceโ some or all of the sodium with potassium,offeringโ a similar taste while potentially lowering blood pressure. A diet high in sodium causes the body to retain fluid, increasing โคblood pressure by expanding blood volume, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
researchers analyzed data from the National โคHealth and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2003 to 2020,utilizing food questionnaires to assess salt substitute consumption. The analysis showed consistently low usage rates throughout the study period, peaking at justโ over 5% during theโค 2013-2014 survey.
Even among individuals who could benefit โmost, usage remained minimal. Slightly more than 5% of those with โhigh blood pressure reported using salt substitutes. The highest reported usage was among those with โค high blood pressure who were already taking medication forโ it – nearly 11%โ – and those โขwith drug-resistant hypertension,at over 7%. However, less than 6% of individuals with untreated high blood pressure used these substitutes.
“Salt substitute use remained uncommon over the โlastโ two decades including among people withโ high bloodโฃ pressure,” Wei stated. “Even among individuals with treated and poorly managed or untreated high blood pressure, most continued to use regular salt.”
Dr. Amit khera, clinical chief of cardiology and director of preventiveโ cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, emphasized the missed opportunity.โ “These results highlight โขan important and easy missed opportunity to improve blood pressure in the U.S. — the use of salt substitutes,” he said,โ adding that the lack of improvement over two decades underscores the need for both patients and healthcare professionals to discuss these alternatives, particularly โduring blood pressure management appointments.
The โฃAmerican Heart Association recommendsโ limiting sodium โintake to no more than 2,300 milligramsโค daily, ideally aiming for less than 1,500 mg for most adults.Researchers note that reducing sodium intake by just 1,000 mg per day can substantially improve blood pressure and overall heart โhealth.
ItS important toโค note that findings presented at medical meetings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.


