(WebMD) — A diet high in sodium and low in potassium increases the risk of death from heart disease and other causes, according to a new study.
“Americans who eat a diet high in sodium and low in potassium have a 50% increased risk of death from any cause and about about twice the risk of death from heart disease,” says researcher Elena V. Kuklina, MD, PhD. She is a nutritional epidemiologist with the CDC division for heart disease and stroke prevention.
Morton Satin, vice president of science and research for the Salt Institute, disagrees with the study. “It’s highly flawed and reveals more of this dogmatic anti-salt agenda.”
Research about sodium and heart disease has produced conflicting results. Studies have shown that high sodium intake or low potassium intake is linked with a higher risk for high blood pressure, the researchers write. The link is stronger for potassium.
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