High Sodium, Low Potassium Diet Ups Death Risk

ATLANTAPeople who consume a high-sodium, low-potassium diet have a 50% increased risk of death from any cause, and nearly twice the risk of death from heart disease, according to a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The findings suggest choosing low-sodium foods like yogurt, milk, fruits and vegetables over high-sodium choices like cheese, processed meats, breads, soups, fast foods, and pastries. The study also suggests eating potassium-rich foods like leafy greens, grapes, blackberries, carrots, potatoes and citrus fruits may offset heart risks associated with high-salt diets.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Emory University and Harvard University, analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine the association between mortality and people's usual intake of sodium and potassium.

"The study's findings are particularly troubling because U.S. adults consume an average of 3,300 milligrams of sodium per day, more than twice the current recommended limit for most Americans," said Elena Kuklina, M.D., Ph.D., an investigator on the study and a nutritional epidemiologist with CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. "This study provides further evidence to support current public health recommendations to reduce sodium levels in processed foods, given that nearly 80% of people's sodium intake comes from packaged and restaurant foods. Increasing potassium intake may have additional health benefits."

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends limiting intake of sodium to 1,500 milligrams per day for people 51 and older, African Americans, and those who have high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney diseaseabout half the U.S. population ages 2 and older. The dietary guidelines recommend that all other people consume less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. In addition, the guidelines recommend that people choose more potassium-rich foods, advising 4,700 milligrams of potassium per day. Study participants who consumed 4,069 milligrams of potassium a day had a 49% lower risk of death from all causes compared to those who took in 1,793 milligrams a day. The higher the potassium intake, the lower the risk of death from heart disease.

The authors recommended adults can improve their health by knowing recommended limits for daily sodium intake, choosing foods like fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, and unprocessed or minimally processed fish, meat or poultry, low-fat milk or plain yogurt, asking for foods with no or low salt at restaurants, and reading the nutrition labels of foods before purchasing can improve health for all adults.