WHO’s guidelines on the role of low-sodium alternatives must be communicated effectively to the public, say experts
| Photo Credit: AFP
The sixth World Hypertension Congress 2025, held at the Chennai Trade Centre, discussed the role of low-sodium salt substitutes (LSSS) in reducing hypertension, while also addressing critical gaps in awareness, accessibility, and policy support.
Organised by The George Institute for Global Health, in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives, the event stressed the urgent need to integrate LSSS into public health strategies. Vivekanand Jha of The George Institute opened the session by pointing out the need to address high salt intake, which could lead to hypertension, through a combined effort from the government, healthcare providers, and the public.
In the panel discussion that followed, Meenakshi Bajaj, dietician at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital, stressed the importance of nutritional literacy and referred to the World Health Organization’s guidelines on sodium intake, emphasising the need for reducing dietary salt to combat hypertension.
Dr. Bajaj also addressed concerns about the cost barriers in promoting salt alternatives, “Amma Low-sodium Salt, once sold at ₹10 per kg, was discontinued due to lack of public awareness, an issue that still persists,” she said.
Rajan Ravichandran, Director of MIOT Institute of Nephrology, stressed the need for medical guidelines to support LSSS adoption. “Physicians should not be hesitant to prescribe low-sodium salt diets, and State-backed guidelines can build confidence in them,” he said, adding that concerns such as hyperkalemia (from potassium-based salts) must also be addressed.
Talking about Nigeria’s experience, Dike Ojji from the University of Abuja shared findings from his survey of 46 supermarkets, where LSSS was available in only 12, priced as high as $7. “We need better distribution and educate public on sodium-reduction policies,” he said.
Published – March 07, 2025 09:49 pm IST
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