High-Sodium, Low-Potassium Diet Linked to Heart Risk

Disease From High-Sodium, Low-Potassium Intake

By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

July 11, 2011 -- A diet high in sodium and low in potassium increases the risk of death from heart disease and other causes, according to a new study.

"Americans who eat a diet high in sodium and low in potassium have a 50% increased risk of death from any cause and about about twice the risk of death from heart disease," says researcher Elena V. Kuklina, MD, PhD. She is a nutritional epidemiologist with the CDC division for heart disease andstroke prevention.

Morton Satin, vice president of science and research for the Salt Institute, disagrees with the study. "It's highly flawed and reveals more of this dogmatic anti-salt agenda."

Research about sodium and heart disease has produced conflicting results. Studies have shown that high sodium intake or low potassium intake is linked with a higher risk for high blood pressure, the researchers write. The link is stronger for potassium.

However, the research about a link between intake of sodium and potassium and getting or dying from cardiovascular disease has been less consistent.

The researchers decided to focus on the sodium-potassium ratio. Recent research has suggested the ratio may be more important in explaining the risk for high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease than either alone.

The study is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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