In Japanese adults, eating too much sodium compared to potassium is linked to a higher risk of dying from heart disease or stroke — but only when the ratio gets really high, like past a certain point.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Dietary sodium-to-potassium ratio as a risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in Japan: the NIPPON DATA80 cohort study

Cohort Study

Human

2016 Jul 13

The study found that people with the highest sodium-to-potassium ratio in their diet had the highest risk of dying from stroke or heart disease, and this risk didn’t increase steadily—it jumped at the top level, which suggests a threshold effect.

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Source Study

Dietary sodium-to-potassium ratio as a risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in Japan: the NIPPON DATA80 cohort study

Score: 52

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011632

Similar Assertions

If Japanese adults eat more sodium compared to potassium in their diet, they’re more likely to die from any kind of stroke — including both bleeding and clot-related strokes — over time.

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90%

If Japanese adults eat more sodium compared to potassium in their diet, they’re more likely to die from heart disease over time.

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88%

In Japanese adults, eating more sodium compared to potassium may increase the risk of dying from a type of stroke called haemorrhagic stroke, especially over a long time.

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87%

If Japanese adults eat more sodium compared to potassium in their diet, they might be more likely to die from any cause over time — especially if their ratio is in the top 20%.

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82%

If you eat a little more potassium-rich food each day—like bananas or spinach—you might lower your risk of stroke and reduce your blood pressure a bit, even if you don’t change how much salt you eat.

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