Do potassium salt substitutes lower blood pressure and reduce death risk for cardiovascular disease?
Potassium salt substitutes are products that replace some of the sodium chloride (table salt) with potassium chloride. They are designed to lower sodium intake while increasing potassium intake. Multiple studies show that using these substitutes can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. However, people with kidney problems should be cautious because high potassium levels can be dangerous. Always talk to your doctor before switching to a salt substitute.
What the research says
A large umbrella review that combined 11 systematic reviews found that potassium-containing low-sodium salt substitutes consistently lowered systolic blood pressure by about 4.6 to 8.9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by about 1.4 to 4.0 mmHg 2. The same review also reported that these substitutes reduced all-cause mortality by 11-12% and cardiovascular mortality by 13-28% 2. These findings are supported by a 2022 review that highlighted striking reductions in cardiovascular outcomes among adults with hypertension who used salt substitutes 10. A 2025 review also concluded that potassium-enriched salt substitutes are an effective strategy to lower blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risk 11. The benefits are thought to come from both reducing sodium and increasing potassium, as low-potassium diets promote salt-sensitive hypertension while potassium-rich diets help lower blood pressure 9. The strongest evidence for clinical outcomes comes from the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study, which heavily influenced the mortality estimates 2.
What to ask your doctor
- Is it safe for me to use a potassium salt substitute given my current health conditions, especially my kidney function?
- How much sodium and potassium should I aim for each day, and how does a salt substitute fit into that?
- Are there any medications I take that could interact with increased potassium intake, such as certain blood pressure pills?
- Should I have my blood potassium levels checked before and after starting a salt substitute?
- What are the signs of too much potassium (hyperkalemia) that I should watch for?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about this topic and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.