A new study estimates that replacing regular table salt with a potassium-enriched version could prevent up to 2.96 million deaths and 10.17 million new cardiovascular disease cases worldwide each year if the switch were complete; even the smallest modeled change could avert about 500,000 deaths annually.

The substitute replaces some sodium chloride with potassium chloride, addressing both high sodium and low potassium intake—dietary factors linked to high blood pressure.

Researchers modeled five approaches, from people choosing to switch at home to replacing all table salt in the food supply with a mix containing 25% potassium chloride.

More targeted adoption could also save lives: if 80% of people diagnosed with hypertension switched their household salt, the model projected about 590,000 fewer deaths each year, while comparable uptake among people receiving hypertension treatment could prevent around 480,000.

The potential gains are especially large in populous countries; a complete switch could avert about 1.08 million deaths annually in China and nearly 400,000 in India, among roughly 1.4 billion people with hypertension worldwide.

How to make the change depends on where salt is consumed: household salt matters in many countries, while processed and restaurant foods account for more than 70% of salt intake in Europe and North America, making food-industry participation essential.

Adoption faces practical hurdles, including a price roughly twice that of regular salt, limited awareness among clinicians and consumers, and the need to reformulate food products.

Better product labeling, clinician education, patient guidance, and government mandates or industry incentives to bring prices closer to parity could help overcome those barriers.

Because potassium-enriched salt tastes similar to regular salt, it may be broadly acceptable, but rollout would still take years and benefits would build gradually rather than arrive immediately.

A wider transition would also require a significant increase in potassium chloride production; the authors describe the approach as a low-cost alternative with potentially far-reaching benefits compared with drug-based treatment.

Safety needs particular attention for people with chronic kidney disease, who may face a higher risk of hyperkalemia, although the study estimates that the overall cardiovascular benefits could still outweigh the risks for these groups.

People considering a switch—especially those with high blood pressure or possible kidney or medication-related risks—should consult a doctor; the cited recommendation is a one-for-one replacement using 75% regular salt and 25% potassium chloride, since adding more salt could negate the benefit.