High levels of sodium and a deficiency in potassium are significant factors in causing high blood pressure in Indonesia. This has led to demands for low-sodium, potassium-rich salt substitutes (LSSS) to be easily accessible in order to enhance health and reduce health expenses. The research from Griffith University has examined the effects of replacing conventional salt with LSSS in the Indonesian diet.Replace regular table salt (which contains 100% sodium chloride) with a low-sodium alternative in Indonesia.
Dr. Leopold Aminde, the lead author from the School of Medicine and Dentistry, stated that the World Health Organization has recommended decreasing sodium consumption across the population to address the prevalence of high blood pressure and non-communicable diseases.
“Low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) closely resemble table salt and studies indicate that they have a similar taste, with some consumers unable to distinguish between the two options,” Dr. Aminde explained.
<p”The research suggests that making LSSS available could have a positive impact on the Indonesian health system by lowering blood pressure.”pressure, and preventing heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease.
“it would lower healthcare costs by up to US$2 billion [IDR 27.7 trillion] over a decade, which is a much-needed cost-saving measure,” said Dr. Wahyu Nugraheni, co-author and Head of the Research Centre for Public Health and Nutrition at the National Research and Innovation Agency in Jakarta.
Dr. Nugraheni also mentioned that “Indonesians consume more sodium than is physiologically required,” and added that “LSSS are an excellent option to help people effortlessly reduce the sodium in their diet.”
Over the first 10 years of imp rnrnImplementation of low-sodium salt (LSSS) could potentially prevent over 1.5 million non-fatal cardiovascular disease events and more than 640,000 new cases of chronic kidney disease, according to a study . Dr. Aminde stated that the greatest health benefits will likely be seen in the low-income population. The research team hopes that these findings will encourage the government in Indonesia and other countries to consider reformulating regular salt to LSSS alternatives, or to expand the supply chains to make them more available and affordable. The research findings will also provide guidance for the upcoming WHO guidelines on the evidence gaps related to implementation costs.The article ‘Cost-effectiveness analysis of low-sodium potassium-rich salt substitutes in Indonesia: an equity modelling study’ has been published in The Lancet Regional Health — Southeast Asia. It discusses the cost-effectiveness and potential effects on health disparities of low-sodium potassium-rich salt substitutes in Indonesia.
