Sodium, Potassium & Blood Pressure: Evidence Map and Systematic Review

It is proposed that modest reductions in sodium intake coupled with increases in potassium from a variety of sources including potassium chloride and/or other supplemental potassium salts may achieve the public health goals of reduced hypertension and cardiovascular risk even if the 2,300 mg dietary intake of sodium goal is not met.

This project seeks to identify new research that addresses questions posed by the 2019 DRI committee report on the relationship between potassium intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Specifically, to determine through knowledge mapping whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to a systematic review to characterize the relationship between potassium (in foods, and different forms of potassium from supplements, and potassium rich sodium substitutes) and CVD risk, alone and in combination with sodium reduction.

If the knowledge map indicates sufficient evidence for a full systematic review, that systematic review is expected to bring credible weight to future deliberations about dietary guidance among authoritative bodies such as the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) on dietary reference intakes and to inform the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

This project builds on a strong body of research of the SoFHI committee over the past decade regarding the safety of increasing potassium intake in the population as a tool for sodium reduction and research on sodium: potassium ratio.

A Request for Proposals was issued in March 2025 for the Phase I Evidence Map.

Institution: New York University
Principal Investigator: Jeanette Beasley, PhD, RD, MPH
Year Awarded: 2025

This work is supported by IAFNS Sodium in Foods & Health Implications Committee.