Even though swapping regular salt for a potassium‑based alternative can lower blood pressure, most people with hypertension still use ordinary salt. This finding comes from early research shared at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure means the blood pushes too hard against the walls of your arteries. Over many years this pressure can damage the vessels and raise the chance of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney problems.
Why Sodium and Potassium Matter
Most adults in the United States get too much sodium from processed foods, fast‑food meals, and snacks. The American Heart Association advises no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day, and ideally under 1,500 mg for people with high blood pressure. Cutting just 1,000 mg a day can make a noticeable difference.
Potassium works opposite to sodium. Replacing some or all of the salt’s sodium with potassium can reduce the total sodium you eat while still giving a salty taste.
How Many People Actually Use Salt Substitutes?
Researchers looked at data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) covering 2003‑2020. The results showed a very small share of U.S. adults use potassium‑based salt alternatives:
- Usage peaked at 5.4 % in 2013‑2014, then fell to about 2.5 % by 2020.
- Among people who could safely use a substitute (healthy kidneys and no potassium‑affecting meds), only 2‑5 % reported using one.
- Those on blood‑pressure medicines were a bit more likely (up to 10 %), but most still chose regular salt.
- People who ate out three or more times a week were even less likely to switch.
Who Should Talk to a Doctor First?
Potassium can build up in the body if someone has kidney disease or takes certain medicines, leading to irregular heartbeats. Because of this, anyone with kidney problems or who is on potassium‑affecting drugs should check with a health professional before changing their salt.
Why This Matters
Experts say the low use of salt substitutes is a missed chance to improve heart health. A simple conversation between doctors and patients could raise awareness and encourage more people to try the swap.
Study Limits
The data relied on participants’ own reports, which might miss some users. The survey also grouped all kinds of salt substitutes together, so it could not tell the difference between potassium‑based and other types. Future research should explore why many avoid these products—whether it’s taste, cost, or lack of knowledge.
Key Takeaways
- Salt substitutes are cheap, easy, and can lower sodium intake.
- Only a tiny fraction of Americans currently use them.
- Increasing awareness could help people with hard‑to‑control blood pressure.
- The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
These findings are from a research abstract presented at a scientific meeting. The results are still preliminary until they appear in a peer‑reviewed journal.