Less Sodium, More Potassium, or Both: Population-wide Strategies to Prevent Hypertension

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2023 Jun 1. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00007.2023. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTHypertension is among the most prevalent medical conditions globally and a major contributor to chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and death. Prevention through non-pharmacologic, population-level interventions is critically needed to halt this worldwide epidemic. However, there are ongoing debates as to where public policy efforts should focus. Recently the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study demonstrated the efficacy of substituting table salt with potassium salt to reduce the risk of stroke, major cardiovascular events, and death. However, this sparked debate over whether sodium or potassium should be prioritized in countries where table salt substitution was less feasible. In this commentary, we summarize arguments in favor of either strategy: reduced sodium or increased potassium intake. Moreover, we discuss evidence and policy approaches related to either or combined approaches relevant to cultural context. Ultimately, there is an urgent need for policies that both reduce sodium and increase potassium intake; however, identifying a strategy that fits cultural context will be key to improve population-wide blood pressures.PMID:37262087 | DOI:10.1152/ajprenal.00007.2023
Source: Am J Physiol Renal P... - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Source Type: research