# Dietary sodium, potassium, and cardiometabolic risk: A cross-sectional analysis of hypertension in U.S. adults from NHANES 2017–2018

## TL;DR

This study found no significant link between dietary sodium or potassium intake and hypertension in U.S. adults, suggesting diet–blood pressure relationships are complex.

## Contribution

The study provides new population-based evidence on the lack of independent association between sodium/potassium intake and hypertension.

## Key findings

- No significant associations were found between sodium or potassium intake and hypertension after adjusting for covariates.
- Subgroup analyses suggested slightly stronger associations among older adults and those with obesity, but interactions were not significant.
- Dietary fiber showed a non-significant inverse trend with hypertension.

## Abstract

The relationships between dietary sodium and potassium intake and hypertension remain controversial, with recent population-based analyses yielding inconsistent findings. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of sodium and potassium intake with hypertension among U.S. adults and to explore potential interactions with demographic and lifestyle factors.

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 5,569 adults aged ≥20 years in the NHANES 2017–2018 cycle. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour dietary recall. Hypertension was defined based on self-reported diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic spline models examined nonlinear trends, and subgroup analyses were stratified by sex, age, and BMI.

No significant associations were found between sodium or potassium intake and the odds of hypertension after adjusting for covariates (OR ≈ 1.00, P > 0.05) and findings were consistent when including the Na/K ratio. Results remained stable across sensitivity models and spline analysis. A non-significant inverse trend was observed for dietary fiber intake. Subgroup analyses suggested slightly stronger associations among older adults and individuals with obesity, although interaction terms were not statistically significant.

In this nationally representative sample, sodium and potassium intake were not independently associated with hypertension risk. These findings highlight the complexity of diet–blood pressure relationships and the importance of considering broader dietary patterns and individual characteristics in hypertension prevention strategies.