A new Cochrane review protocol will assess whether replacing regular salt with potassium or magnesium-based substitutes can help lower blood pressure in people with diabetes. The review aims to provide high-quality evidence on the effectiveness and safety of this dietary strategy.

A new protocol published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews will systematically assess whether replacing regular table salt with alternatives such as potassium chloride or magnesium chloride can reduce blood pressure in people with diabetes mellitus.

With hypertension often coexisting with diabetes, this review targets a critical intersection of two major health burdens. Elevated blood pressure in people with diabetes is linked to vascular changes and increases the risk of cardiovascular events.

The protocol outlines plans to include randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials evaluating adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who substitute sodium salt with alternatives. Primary outcomes include changes in systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure. Secondary outcomes will assess adverse events, biochemical changes, adherence, and quality of life.

The review will follow Cochrane and PRISMA 2020 guidelines, employing rigorous risk-of-bias and GRADE assessments. Studies must use 24-hour urinary sodium excretion to verify salt intake and span at least one week in duration.

Researchers hope that the review will clarify the potential of salt substitutes as a practical dietary strategy for blood pressure control in diabetes, particularly where standard sodium reduction faces challenges in adherence and effectiveness.

(Source:https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250618/Can-salt-substitutes-lower-blood-pressure-in-diabetes-A-new-Cochrane-review-aims-to-find-out.aspx )