Salt substitute

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Salt substitutes are edible products designed to taste similar to table salt, which is mostly sodium chloride. They usually contain mostly potassium chloride, whose toxicity is approximately equal to that of table salt in a healthy person (the LD₅₀ is about 2500 mg/kg, or 190 g for a person weighing 75 kg). The RDA of potassium is also higher than that for sodium, yet a typical person consumes less potassium than sodium in a given day.^{[citation needed]}

However, various diseases and medications may decrease the body's excretion of potassium, thereby increasing the risk of potentially fatal hyperkalemia. People with kidney failure, heart failure or diabetes should not use salt substitutes without medical advice. A manufacturer, LoSalt, has issued an advisory statement.^[1] that people taking the following prescription drugs should not use a salt substitute: Amiloride, Triamterene, Dytac, Captopril & Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, Spironolactone, Aldactone, Eplerenone, and Inspra.

Hydrolyzed protein^[2] or 5'-nucleotides^[3] are sometimes added to potassium chloride to improve the flavour of salt substitutes.

[edit] See also

• Edible salt

[edit] References

1. ^ LoSalt Advisory Statement (PDF)
2. ^ United States Patent 4451494
3. ^ United States Patent 4243691