Dietary Potassium/Sodium Balance for Cardiovascular Health
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial examines how varying levels of dietary potassium and sodium affect the heart and blood vessels. Researchers aim to determine whether increased potassium intake can maintain blood vessel health, even with high sodium consumption. Participants will follow one of three diets: high potassium and high sodium, moderate potassium and high sodium, or moderate potassium and low sodium. Individuals who are healthy, have normal blood pressure and heart tests, and are not on special diets or medications may be suitable for this trial. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity to contribute to significant nutritional research that could enhance heart health.
Do I need to stop taking my current medications for this trial?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but you cannot participate if you take medications for conditions like hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease.
Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?
Research shows that increasing potassium intake benefits heart health. For diets high in both potassium and sodium, studies have found a reduced risk of strokes and other serious heart issues. Strong evidence indicates that increasing potassium does not harm blood fats. However, excessive potassium can lead to hyperkalemia, an excess of potassium in the blood, so monitoring is necessary.
For diets with moderate potassium and high sodium, evidence suggests that adding more potassium can lower blood pressure, even with high sodium levels. While high sodium can raise blood pressure, potassium helps counteract this effect.
A diet with moderate potassium and low sodium is generally safe and effective. Reducing sodium and increasing potassium can lower the risk of heart disease and death. Studies show this combination can safely manage blood pressure without causing harm.
Overall, these dietary changes are well-tolerated and can improve heart health, but monitoring potassium levels is important, especially with high potassium intake.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about exploring the balance of dietary potassium and sodium for cardiovascular health because it offers a fresh approach to managing heart-related issues. Unlike standard treatments like medications or invasive procedures, this study focuses on dietary adjustments. The High Potassium/High Sodium diet challenges the conventional belief that high sodium is always detrimental, while the Moderate Potassium/Low Sodium and Moderate Potassium/High Sodium diets aim to find the optimal balance for heart health. These dietary interventions could provide a natural, accessible way to support cardiovascular health, potentially reducing reliance on medication.
What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cardiovascular health?
This trial will compare the effects of different dietary potassium and sodium balances on cardiovascular health. Research has shown that increasing potassium intake can benefit the heart by lowering blood pressure. Studies have found that a diet high in potassium and low in salt (sodium) can reduce blood pressure, which benefits heart health. Even a small increase in potassium can help, although effects may vary among individuals. Excessive salt intake is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, so balancing it with more potassium might be beneficial. For those who consume a lot of salt, adding more potassium may help protect blood vessels. Overall, diets with more potassium and less salt are considered safe and beneficial for heart health. Participants in this trial will be assigned to one of three dietary plans: a High Potassium/High Sodium diet, a Moderate Potassium/High Sodium diet, or a Moderate Potassium/Low Sodium diet, to evaluate their effects on cardiovascular health.34678
Who Is on the Research Team?
Shannon L Lennon, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of Delaware
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for healthy adults with normal blood pressure and ECG who aren't on medication, not endurance athletes, non-smokers, not pregnant or obese (BMI under 30), without diabetes, kidney disease, special diets (like gluten-free or vegan), hypertension or heart disease history.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Dietary Intervention
Participants are provided with specific diets varying in potassium and sodium levels to assess vascular effects
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after dietary intervention
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- High Potassium/High Sodium Diet
- Moderate Potassium/High Sodium Diet
- Moderate Potassium/Low Sodium Diet
Trial Overview
The study tests the effects of different diets on blood vessels: one diet has moderate potassium/low sodium; another has moderate potassium/high sodium; and a third has high potassium/high sodium. It aims to see how dietary potassium affects people's vasculature when they consume a lot of salt.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Subjects will be provided with a diet that is moderate in potassium and low in sodium.
Subjects will be provided with a diet that is moderate in potassium and high in sodium.
Subjects will be provided with a diet that is high in both potassium and sodium.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Delaware
Lead Sponsor
Published Research Related to This Trial
Citations
Sodium and potassium intake and risk of cardiovascular ...
He et al. showed that high sodium intake was a strong risk factor for congestive heart failure in overweight participants of the NHANES I follow-up study [14], ...
Effect of low sodium and high potassium diet on lowering ...
The study revealed that potassium intake and the Na:K ratio were more reliable predictors of cardiovascular outcomes [128]. The PURE study also ...
Modifying Dietary Sodium and Potassium Intake: An End to ...
In fact, one model predicted that reducing salt intake by 3 g per day could reduce yearly cardiovascular death by 50%. SALT CONSUMPTION. Salt ( ...
4.
bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com
bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-17582-8Sodium, potassium intake, and all-cause mortality
When potassium intake decreases, it leads to sodium retention and elevated blood pressure. The WHO proposes a daily potassium intake of at least ...
Sodium vs Potassium Education to Improve Vascular Health
It is known that increasing potassium intake can improve cardiovascular disease risk factors in a laboratory setting. The investigators are ...
Effect of Salt Substitution on Cardiovascular Events and ...
The safety outcome was clinical hyperkalemia; sudden death was also assessed as a key indicator of safety. Routine serum potassium measurements ...
Cardiovascular Benefits of Potassium-Enriched Salt ...
Potassium-enriched salt significantly reduced the rates of fatal and non-fatal strokes, major cardiovascular events, and death in older adults with a history ...
Effect of increased potassium intake on cardiovascular risk ...
High quality evidence shows that increased potassium intake reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension and has no adverse effect on blood lipid ...
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