In Indonesia, lack of potassium combined with excess sodium intakes are major causes of high blood pressures among Indonesians. This has prompted calls for making low sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) with high potassium content, readily available. High blood pressure after all is a condition that could lead to other health problems like stroke, heart attacks and kidney diseases.

Actually, in connection with the World Health Organization’s recommendations for populations to lower sodium consumption, a new study is being conducted by medical researchers at New Griffith University (NGU) to determine the impact of LSSS in Indonesia’s health system.

Potential Impact of LSSS in Indonesia’s Health System

Dr. Leopold Aminde from the School of Medicine and Dentistry at NGU leads the research team that studied the effect of replacing the current table salt, which is 100% sodium chloride, with the LSSS. According to Dr. Aminde, LSSS looks and tastes similar to table salt. He remarked that some consumers are unable to distinguish the difference between the two options.

Based on the study’s estimate, LSSS will likely provide the country’s much needed cost saving measure as it would lower health expenditures by as much as IDR 27.7 trillion (US$2 billion) over a 10-year period.

Study co-author, Dr. Wahyu Nugraheni, who is the Head of the Research Centre for Public Health and Nutrition at the NRIA in Jakarta commented that LSSS is an excellent alternative to table salt since most Indonesians consume more sodium than what is required.

During an initial 10-year implementation period, the researchers estimate that LSSS could help prevent the occurrence of up to 1.5 million non-fatal cardiovascular disorders. Additionally, LSSS could prevent the development of up to 640,000 new kidney diseases that have been affecting the Indonesian population.