Higher Potassium Intake Lowers Blood Pressure and Is Associated with Less Risk for Stroke

Low potassium intake is associated with hypertension and stroke. In new meta-analyses, investigators assessed whether higher potassium intake protects against hypertension and adverse cardiovascular (CV) events, including stroke.

Overall, 1600 individuals participated in 22 randomized trials; trial interventions were provision of potassium supplements in 20 trials and dietary advice in the other 2. Higher potassium consumption significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) by a mean 5.9 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by a mean 3.8 mm Hg. However, subgroup analyses revealed that higher potassium intake lowered BP only in patients with hypertension (i.e., not in patients with normal or low BP). Daily potassium intake of 90 to 12…