As cases of hypertension and cardiovascular disease continue to rise in Nigeria, health researchers are shifting the conversation beyond regular salt reduction to promoting potassium-enriched salt.

Leading this effort is the Nigeria Sodium Study Team at the University of Abuja’s Cardiovascular Research Centre, where emerging evidence suggests that improving potassium intake is just as important as reducing sodium consumption.

Dike Ojji, Professor of Medicine and Preventive Cardiology at College of Health Sciences, and Lead Investigator, Cardiovascular Research Centre of University of Abuja and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, said many Nigerians are unknowingly consuming far less potassium than required for healthy blood pressure regulation.

“Reducing hypertension is not only about cutting down on salt,” Ojji said. “Adequate potassium intake helps counter the harmful effects of excess sodium and also plays a significant role in lowering blood pressure.”

According to him, studies indicate that most Nigerians consume only about 60 per cent of the potassium intake recommended by the World Health Organization. “And that’s not very good for our health,” he stressed.

Potassium is an essential mineral found naturally in foods such as leafy vegetables, fruits, legumes, and tubers. However, changing dietary habits still pose a challenge, particularly in urban areas where processed foods and seasoning cubes dominate regular meals.

To address low potassium intake and rising hypertension, practical and accessible alternatives, including potassium-enriched or low-sodium salt, is a necessity, according to Professor Bruce Neal of the George Institute of University of New South Wales, one of the members of the Nigeria Sodium Study Team.

The co-principal investigator in the Nigeria Sodium Study Team, Prof Mark Huffman of Washington University in Saint Louis noted that this shift to potassium-rich diets explains an important development in public health communication, from simply warning messages against excessive salt consumption to offering realistic dietary solutions.

The health experts say food such as leafy vegetables contains a lot of potassium and their consumption is very healthy for humans.

The current approach is more likely to encourage or drive sustained behavioural change compared to just cutting down salt intake.

Ojji said, “People respond better when you provide alternatives, not just restrictions. The overall goal is to help Nigerians make smarter dietary choices that fit their everyday realities. The message is clear: Stop the consumption of too much salt, increase the intake of potassium, which we can find all around us.”

Backed by international research collaborations across the United States and Australia, and funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, USA, the Nigeria Sodium Study Team’s work on sodium reduction is increasingly influencing public health discussions and dietary policy considerations.

With hypertension leading to thousands of preventable deaths annually, promoting potassium-enriched salt and diets could represent a significant turning point in Nigeria’s fight against cardiovascular disease.