Salt pills could boost heart failure treatment, small trial hints

NCT ID NCT04334668

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: The Cleveland Clinic Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Updated 3 times

Summary

This study tests whether giving oral salt tablets alongside standard IV diuretics helps hospitalized heart failure patients lose more fluid and maintain better kidney function. About 67 adults with acute decompensated heart failure will receive either salt or placebo three times daily for about 4 days. The goal is to see if this simple addition improves weight loss and creatinine levels.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: oral sodium chloride (table salt)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple, low-cost way to improve fluid removal and protect kidneys during heart failure treatment.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase study with only 67 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Adding salt could also worsen fluid overload in some patients.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

congestive heart failure Edema heart failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

VOLUME OVERLOAD

Contacts and locations

Locations

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States

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