Researchers from Cayetano Heredia University in Peru tested a safer table salt. A new product containing 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride was able to lower blood pressure. results published on PubMed.
The new salt formulation, which uses a ratio of three parts sodium chloride to one part potassium chloride, was developed in 2015 with support from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in the United States. This is because the mineral potassium, found in various salt substitutes and naturally in many fruits and vegetables, relaxes artery walls and lowers blood pressure. Regular salt is almost pure sodium chloride.
Peruvian scientists tested the development on 2,376 volunteers. At first, only some of the volunteers used salt with the new composition, but over time, all participants stopped using the traditional product, which consists only of sodium chloride. As a result of 3.5 years of observation of the participants, it was revealed that the participants were half as likely to suffer from hypertension. The volunteers’ average blood pressure also dropped.
Participants aged 60 and over with hypertension saw a decrease in blood pressure of 2.17 mmHg. This result is associated with an approximately 10% reduction in the risk of death from stroke and a 7% reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Researchers noted that the updated formulation turned out to be an effective tool in the fight against cardiovascular diseases. New salt can balance the amount of potassium and sodium consumed. Scientists hope that safer salt may be recommended by doctors in the future to protect the heart.
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