People with high salt intake and low potassium intake have a 50 percent increased risk of death from any health cause — and about twice the risk of death from a heart attack, government researchers said yesterday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings are a counterpoint to a fiercely debated study released last week that found no evidence of mortality benefits from making small cuts in salt intake.

“Salt is still bad for you,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, the city’s health commissioner, who is leading a campaign to reduce salt in restaurants and packaged foods.