salt substitute

Introduction

70-75% sodium chloride, 25-30% potassium chloride

Laboratory

• sodium in 24 hour hour & potassium in 24 hour hour confirm 10% decrease in sodium excretion & 50% increase in potassium excretion

Clinical significance

• lower 5 year risk of stroke or other major cardiovascular event & mortality (RR=0.97-0.98 for ~ 2 grams of daily sodium excretion vs regular salt use)
• salt substitute probably reduces blood pressure, non-fatal cardiovascular events & cardiovascular mortality in adults
• salt substitute probably increases blood potassium in adults
• these are small effects
• evidence is limited for adults without elevated blood pressure, for pregnant women & for people with other factors increasing serum potassium
• using a salt substitute may decrease the risk of developing hypertension in normotensive people
• evidence for protective effects of salt substitute on total mortality (RR=0.89), cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.87) & cardiovascular events (RR 0.89)
  • overall reduction of systolic BP: -4.61 mm Hg; diastolic BP: -1.61 mm Hg
• salt substitution was more effective & less costly than salt restriction for hyptertension control & cardiovascular disease prevention than salt restriction in Chinese ElderCare failities
• salt substitution may reduce all-cause or cardiovascular mortality
  • the evidence is uncertainm especially for a Western population
  • certainty of evidence is higher among persons following a Chinese diet

Components

• sodium chloride (NaCl, Adsorbonac Ophthalmic)
• potassium chloride (KCl, Klor Con, Kaon-Cl, Slow-K, Micro-K, Klotrix, K Tab, K Dur, Ten-K, Cen-K, Kaochlor, Kay Ciel, K Lor, Kato, Klorvess, Kaon, K Lyte Cl)