Sodium vs Potassium Education to Improve Vascular Health

ConditionHealthy
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-45
SponsorFlorida State University

About this trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a self-selected high potassium diet is easier to achieve and more effective at improving vascular health than a low sodium diet in generally healthy young adults who typically consume more than the recommended amount of sodium. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Is it easier for young adults to increase their potassium intake, rather than reduce their sodium intake? 2. Is a self-selected high potassium diet better at improving vascular health compared to a self-selected low sodium diet?

Researchers will compare the effectiveness of an education-based intervention centered only on increasing dietary potassium intake against an education-based intervention centered only on reducing dietary sodium intake.

Participants will be randomly assigned to receive comprehensive dietary education on adopting either a high-potassium diet or a low-sodium diet.

Education will be delivered in four weekly one-on-one sessions. Following the four-week education period, participants will be encouraged to change their diet based on what they have learned. Measures of dietary compliance (urine samples and diet records) and cardiovascular health (blood pressure, endothelial function) will be assessed at two, four, and six months post-education.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Willing and able to attend in-person laboratory visits

Usual sodium intake ≥3,000 mg/d for females and ≥4,000 mg/d for males

Usual potassium intake ≤2,500 mg/d in females and ≤3,000 mg/d in males

Disqualifiers

BMI ≥35 kg/m2

Seated blood pressure ≥130/80 mmHg

Current diagnosis or history of diabetes, renal disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, or major cardiovascular event (e.g. heart attack or stroke)

Current or recent use of a diuretic (within the past 6 months)

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • High potassium dietary education/counseling
  • Low sodium dietary education/counseling

Treatment groups

32 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Florida State University

Lead sponsor

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Collaborator