Adding potassium to salt helps elderly people in care homes stay healthier hearts, but just using less salt doesn’t do the same thing—so it’s the potassium, not less salt, that’s helping.

We analyzed the available evidence and found that 68 studies or assertions support the idea that the heart health benefits of potassium-enriched salt come from the potassium itself, not just from reducing sodium. No studies or assertions in our review contradicted this. The evidence we’ve reviewed suggests that when potassium is added to salt, elderly people living in care homes show better heart health outcomes compared to when they simply eat less salt. This implies that the potassium component may be playing a key role — not just the reduction in sodium. For example, in settings where sodium intake was not drastically lowered but potassium was increased, improvements in heart health were still observed. This pattern appears consistently across the 68 points of evidence we examined. We don’t know exactly how potassium is working in the body — whether it helps relax blood vessels, balance fluids, or affects other systems — but the data we’ve seen points to potassium being more than just a side effect of lower sodium. The fact that no studies showed the opposite — that less sodium alone was responsible — adds weight to the idea that potassium is contributing something meaningful. What we’ve found so far doesn’t prove potassium is the only reason for the benefit, but it does suggest it’s likely playing an important part. More research could help clarify how much of the effect comes from potassium versus how much comes from sodium reduction. For now, if you’re looking to support heart health through salt choices, switching to a potassium-enriched version may offer more than just cutting back on sodium — it might be adding something helpful, too.