Salt substitute

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A salt substitute by AlsoSalt

A salt substitute, also known as low-sodium salt, is a low-sodium alternative to

edible salt (table salt) marketed to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease associated with a high intake of sodium chloride[1]
while maintaining a similar taste.

The leading salt substitutes are non-sodium table salts, which have their tastes as a result of compounds other than sodium chloride. Non-sodium salts reduce daily sodium intake and reduce the health effects of this element.

Low sodium diet

Main article: Low sodium diet

According to current WHO guidelines,[2][3] adults should consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium per day (i.e. about 5 grams of traditional table salt), and at least 3,510 mg of potassium per day.[4] In Europe, adults and children consume about twice as much sodium as recommended by experts.[5]

Research

In 2021, a large randomised controlled trial of 20,995 older people in China found that use of a potassium salt substitute in home cooking over a five-year period reduced the risk of stroke by 14%, major cardiovascular events by 13% and all-cause mortality by 12% compared to use of regular table salt.[6]

The study found no significant difference in

hyperkalaemia
between the two groups, though people with serious kidney disease were excluded from the trial. The salt substitute used was 25% potassium chloride and 75% sodium chloride.

A 2022 Cochrane review of 26 trials involving salt substitutes found their use probably slightly reduces blood pressure, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal acute coronary syndrome and heart disease death in adults compared to use of regular table salt.[7] A separate systematic review and meta-analysis published in the same year of 21 trials involving salt substitutes found protective effects of salt substitute on total mortality, cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular events.[8]

Examples

Potassium

Potassium closely resembles the saltiness of sodium. In practice,

recommended daily allowance of potassium is higher than that for sodium,[10] yet a typical person consumes less potassium than sodium in a given day.[11] Potassium chloride has a bitter aftertaste when used in higher proportions, which consumers may find unpalatable. As a result, some formulations only replace half the sodium chloride with potassium.[12]

Various diseases and medications may decrease the body's excretion of potassium, thereby increasing the risk of potentially fatal

angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, spironolactone, and eplerenone
.

Other types

Sodium malate is salty in taste and may be blended with other salt substitutes. Although it contains sodium, the mass fraction is lower.[14]

Monosodium glutamate is often used as a substitute for salt in processed and restaurant food, due to its salty taste and low sodium content compared to table salt, and can also be used effectively in home cooking.[15][16]

Seaweed granules are also marketed as alternatives to salt.[17]

Dehydrated, pulverized Salicornia (glasswort, marsh samphire) is sold under the brand name "Green Salt" as a salt substitute claimed to be as salty in taste as table salt, but with less sodium.[18][19]

Historical

Historically (late 20th century), many substances containing magnesium and potassium have been tried as salt substitutes. They include:[20][21]

Even further back in the early 20th century,

overdosing was common and deaths have occurred, leading to its prohibition in 1949.[22]

Additives

Flavor enhancers, although not true salt alternatives, help reduce the use of salt by enhancing the savory flavor (umami).[23] Hydrolyzed protein[24] or 5'-nucleotides[25] are sometimes added to potassium chloride to improve the flavour of salt substitutes. Fish sauce has the same effect.[26]

Salt substitutes can also be further enriched with the essential nutrients. A salt substitute can, analogously to the problem of iodine deficiency, help to eliminate the "hidden hunger" i.e. insufficient supply of necessary micronutrients such as iron.[27][28] Such substances are promoted by UNICEF as a "super-salt".[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ Salt and Health (PDF). Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)
  2. ^ "WHO issues new guidance on dietary salt and potassium" (Press release). WHO. 31 January 2013.
  3. OCLC 849715509.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  4. OCLC 1022820929
    .
  5. PMID 24366578
    .
  6. PMID 34459569.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  7. PMID 35944931.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  8. S2CID 254247591
    .
  9. ^ Low sodium meat products. http://www.corbion.com/
  10. ^ "Dietary Reference Intakes : Electrolytes and Water" (PDF). The National Academies. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  11. PMID 4036845
    . Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  12. ISSN 1745-459X
    .
  13. ^ LoSalt Advisory Statement (PDF) Archived 2008-06-26 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ISBN 978-0-486-31115-9
    .
  15. ^ Inc, Bright Tribe. "MSG in Cooking". The Glutamate Association. Retrieved 2022-08-18. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. PMID 29188030
    .
  17. ^ "Seaweed granules may replace salt in foods". foodnavigator.com. 22 September 2008.
  18. ^ Florence Fabricant, "To Sprinkle: Add Some Green To Your Salt Lineup", New York Times, August 11, 2021, p. D3; online version "Add Green to Your Salt Lineup" August 9, 2021
  19. ^ Green Salt web site
  20. PMID 7567973
    .
  21. PMID 4588315
    .
  22. S2CID 25861243
    .
  23. ^ Lubin, Gus (2 February 2017). "Everyone should cook with MSG, says food scientist". Business Insider. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  24. ^ United States Patent 4451494
  25. ^ United States Patent 4243691
  26. PMID 26613570
    .
  27. PMID 30954305
    .
  28. PMID 23971426
    .
  29. ^ "VITAMIN & MINERAL DEFICIENCY: A GLOBAL PROGRESS REPORT" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salt_substitute&oldid=1222862680"