Pan WH, et al. - This study investigated the potential added benefits of intake of salt enriched with magnesium at an amount near the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) amount on stroke recovery. Findings indicated that consumption of magnesium and potassium enriched salts at the DRI amount provided benefits for stroke patient recovery from neurologic deficits.

Methods

• Researchers performed a double-blind, randomized controlled trial comprising 291 discharged stroke patients with modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤4.
• There were 3 arms:  regular salt (Na salt) (n = 99), potassium-enriched salt (K salt) (n = 97), and potassium- and magnesium-enriched salt (K/Mg salt) (n = 95).
• They assessed the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Barthel Index (BI), and mRS at discharge, at 3 mo, and at 6 mo.
• A good neurologic performance was defined by NIHSS = 0, BI = 100, and mRS ≤1.

Results

• Findings demonstrated that after the 6-mo intervention, the proportion of patients with good neurologic performance increased in a greater magnitude in the K/Mg salt group than in the K salt group and the Na salt group, in that order.
• Researchers observed that the K/Mg salt group had a significantly increased OR (2.25; 95% CI: 1.09, 4.67) of achieving good neurologic performance compared with the Na salt group.
• Data reported that the effect of K salt alone (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 0.77, 3.22) was not significant.