A groundbreaking study has revealed that replacing regular salt with potassium-enriched salt substitutes may significantly reduce the risk of recurrent strokes and stroke-related deaths. The study, a subgroup analysis from the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS), tracked participants over an average period of about five years. Conducted across 600 villages in northern China, the research indicates a 14% reduction in recurrent stroke rates and a 21% decrease in stroke-related deaths when using potassium-enriched salt substitutes.
The Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS) was a large randomized clinical trial that focused on a specific subset of participants to explore the potential benefits of potassium-enriched salts. Notably, over 795,000 people suffer from strokes annually, with nearly one in four being recurrent incidents. Alarmingly, a person succumbs to a stroke approximately every three minutes.
Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS, a physician-scientist and assistant professor at the RUSH Institute for Healthy Aging, emphasized the importance of potassium-enriched salt substitutes.
“Reduced-sodium replaced by added-potassium salt as substitutes help lower blood pressure by reducing sodium intake, which directly reduces vascular strain.” – Thomas M. Holland, MD, MS
Holland also highlighted the broader implications of dietary changes beyond just salt substitution.
“As you can imagine, beyond salt substitution, adopting a broader approach to dietary change—such as increasing fresh fruit and vegetable intake and reducing intake of processed foods, fried fast foods, baked goods—can further enhance neurovascular and cardiovascular health.” – Thomas Holland, MD, MS
Rebecca DiBiase, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of vascular neurology at the Yale New Haven Stroke Center, added insights into the mechanics of how high blood pressure affects vascular health.
“Over time [high blood pressure] causes increased stress on the blood vessel walls, causing them to develop plaques and narrowing.” – Rebecca DiBiase, MD, MPH
DiBiase further explained the risks associated with narrowed blood vessels.
“Narrowed blood vessels in the heart can make people more likely to have heart attacks, and narrowed blood vessels leading to and inside the brain can make people more likely to experience stroke.” – Rebecca DiBiase, MD, MPH
Although neither Holland nor DiBiase were directly involved in the study, their comments shed light on the potential implications of the findings. The study's insights suggest that dietary interventions, like using potassium-infused salt substitutes, could be a crucial strategy in reducing stroke risks and enhancing overall vascular health.
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