For people with high blood pressure, using a special low-sodium salt for three years might lower their systolic blood pressure more than regular salt—especially if they have certain genes that make them more likely to have high blood pressure. The drop is about 9.2 points on average.

People with high blood pressure who have certain genes that make them more prone to high blood pressure tend to see their blood pressure drop more when they switch to low-sodium salt, compared to others with those same genes but lower risk.

If people with high blood pressure switch to a low-sodium salt for three years, their top blood pressure number (systolic) tends to go down—but their genes don’t seem to change how much their bottom number (diastolic) changes.

Eating less salt can lower your blood pressure a little bit, and that might help keep your heart healthier and prevent heart problems.

If you replace some of the regular salt in your food with a salt substitute that has less sodium, your blood pressure might drop a little — about 1.5 points for the top number and 1 point for the bottom number for every 10% less salt you use.

Cutting back on salt can lower your blood pressure a little bit—about 3 to 5 points for the top number and 1 to 3 points for the bottom number—and this works the same way whether you're Asian, Black, or White, as long as you start with similar blood pressure and salt intake.