Potassium-enriched salt recommended for blood pressure control

The use of potassium-enriched salt has now been recommended by the National Hypertension Taskforce—Australia's peak body for blood pressure control—in a new position statement published in the Journal of Hypertension.

"This is a strong, evidence-based recommendation that aligns Australia with the latest international guidelines. Switching to potassium-enriched salt is one of the most feasible and impactful ways to lower blood pressure and prevent heart attacks and strokes. We commend the Taskforce for giving this issue the prominence it deserves," says Professor Bruce Neal.

The George Institute for Global Health welcomed the statement which supports the inclusion of potassium-enriched salt in national hypertension management guidelines, describing it as an important and practical step toward improving blood pressure control and reducing cardiovascular deaths.

The National Hypertension Taskforce, launched in 2022 in response to Australia's low and stagnating rates of high blood pressure control, has the ambitious goal to double control rates from 32% to 70% by 2030. Hypertension currently affects one in three Australian adults and is the nation's leading cause of preventable death and disability.

Excess dietary sodium and low potassium intake are both linked to high blood pressure, with high sodium alone being attributed to 1.9 million deaths globally each year. But despite decades of public health campaigns, salt intake remains nearly double recommended levels while potassium intake continues to fall short.

With potassium-enriched salt, a portion of the sodium chloride in regular salt is replaced with potassium chloride, typically in a 75:25 ratio. Large-scale clinical trials show that this switch can lower blood pressure, reduce major cardiovascular events and decrease cardiovascular deaths.

A recent review of 32 hypertension guidelines worldwide showed all recommend sodium reduction as a strategy for hypertension management. Many also suggested increasing potassium intake, but only four mentioned potassium-enriched salt and just two specifically recommended its routine use for hypertension management.

However, newer international guidelines from the European Society of Hypertension, the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology American Heart Association now recommend the use of potassium-enriched salt.

The George Institute supports the Taskforce's call for potassium-enriched salt to be incorporated into the next update of the Australian Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension, alongside measures to ensure safe use for people with kidney disease or on certain medications.

The Institute is also working with partners globally to expand access to potassium-enriched salt, and engaging industry, regulators, and consumers in scaling up the use of potassium-enriched salt.

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