Sodium, Potassium Intake Tied to Heart Disease

Study finds 24% greater risk per unit increase in salt-to-mineral ratio

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MONDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Too much sodium and too little potassium in one's diet may increase one's risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study suggests.

The findings, based on a long-term analysis by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of almost 3,000 people with pre-hypertension, also suggests that increasing potassium consumption along with the common wisdom of lowering one's salt intake may reverse the risk.

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Researchers found that for people with high normal blood pressure levels (120 to 139/80 to 89 mmHg), every unit increase in the person's sodium-to-potassium ratio raised his or her chance of cardiovascular disease by 24 percent.

The findings were published in the Jan. 12 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

A third of American adults have high blood pressure, defined as 140/90 mmHg or higher, while another 37 percent have pre-hypertension.

More information

The American Heart Association has more about factors affecting the risk of cardiovascular disease.

-- Kevin McKeever