potassium reduces cardiovascular mortality

[Guest guest]

Sodium is a potassium depletor, so rather than recommending the

potassium-enriched salt mentioned in this study, I have been

coaching clients to replace the table and cooking salt with

potassium and allow incidental sodium in processed food etc to be

their main, if not sole, salt source. I've also been coaching

pople to NOT use salt-c for Lyme disease without supplementing a

lot of potassium, because some people are showing symptoms of

potassium depletion (it ain't a herx effect).

 

Summary:

 

In a multi-center, randomized, controlled trial involving 1,981

elderly men (average age: 74.8 years), replacing regular table

salt with a potassium-enriched salt was found to improve

cardiovascular disease (CVD) survivorship, increase length of

life, and reduce spending on inpatient care for CVD.

 

 

Subjects, veterans in a retirement home, were randomly divided

into two groups for a period of 31 months. One group

(experimental group, n=768) replaced regular table salt with

potassium-enriched salt, while the other group (control group,

n=1,213) continued to consume regular table salt. Information on

death, health insurance claims, and dates when subjects moved

into or out of the retirement home was collected.

 

Results found that subjects in the experimental group had a

significantly reduced incidence of CVD mortality, compared with

subjects in the control group. While in the experimental group,

the incidence of CVD-related death was 13.1 per 1,000 persons, in

the control g roup, the incidence was 20.5 per 1,000. After

adjusting for age, the hazard ratio for CVD mortality among

subjects in the experimental group was 0.59, compared to subjects

in the control group. Furthermore, subjects in the experimental

group were found to live 0.3 to 0.90 years longer than subjects

in the control group. Finally, after controlling for age and

previous hospitalization expenditures, subjects in the

experimental group were found to spend significantly less money

on inpatient care for CVD, as compared to the control group.

 

The results of this study suggest that elderly men may

significantly benefit from replacing regular table salt in the

diet with a potassium-enriched salt. These beneficial effects may

relate to the increase in potassium and the decrease in sodium

intakes.

 

 

Reference:

 

Effect of potassium-enriched salt on cardiovascular mortality and

medical expenses of elderly men

 

Chang HY, Hu YW, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2006; 83(6): 1289-96.

(Address: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Nan-

Kang, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China).

[Guest guest]

Duncan

Thanks for this info.

Can you describe what the signs of potassium depletion are?

I've just come across some info on potassium and the thyroid which blew me away.I've researched thyroid for years and never knew about the connection between thyroid and potassium.I've started supplementing with potassium and have more energy than I have had for years.Feels like I might have to lower thyroid meds.

Chantal