Potassium Enriched Salt to Lower Stroke Risk: A #NephJC Editorial on the SSaSS Study

The prevalence of hypertension has increased substantially over time, even after adjusting for age, and so have the associated disability and deaths.(1) Based on physiology principles and epidemiological studies, high sodium intake has been recognized as a key contributor to high blood pressure (BP). Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated that lowering sodium intake to <2 g/day versus maintaining sodium levels ≥2 g/day reduces BP by about 3.5/1.8 mm Hg.(2) Another meta-analysis showed that for every 50 mmol (∼ 1.15 gram of sodium) decrease in 24-hour sodium excretion, the BP was lowered by 1.1/0.3 mmHg.(3) However, whether reducing sodium intake decreases adverse clinical outcomes is uncertain since RCTs have not had adequate power or longer term follow-up to assess the effects of on morbidity and mortality.