What is the effect of a reduced-sodium added-potassium salt substitute diet?

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    Last Updated: April 23, 2025

    A reduced-sodium/added-potassium salt substitute can help lower blood pressure as part of a sodium-restricted diet, but it should be used under medical supervision. Although some evidence suggests it may reduce mortality risk associated with high blood pressure, more long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings.

    A reduced-sodium added-potassium salt substitute is sometimes used to supplement a sodium-restricted (reduced salt) diet to help treat hypertension. Such salt substitutes typically contain a reduced amount of sodium chloride and an added amount of potassium chloride, and randomized controlled trials show that they can effectively reduce blood pressure.[1][2][3][4][5] However, this does not mean that more is better — some evidence shows that supplementation with potassium salts in high doses might increase blood pressure.[6]

    Because high blood pressure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke-related mortality, it is possible that the blood-pressure-lowering effect of a reduced-sodium added-potassium salt substitute could reduce mortality risk. Some current evidence supports this hypothesis,[1][2][7] but due to the dearth of studies and the large between-study variability, further long-term high-quality observational studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to make firm conclusions.