Potassium and High Blood Pressure

What do potassium and high blood pressure have to do with each other? Potassium and high blood pressure research has shown that potassium lowers blood pressure. Good sources of potassium include certain fruits, vegetables, milk, and fish. Most healthcare providers recommend a diet rich in potassium to lower blood pressure or for high blood pressure prevention.

 

Potassium and High Blood Pressure: An Overview

Blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can be unhealthy, even if it stays only slightly above the normal level of less than 120/80 mmHg. The higher that blood pressure rises above normal, the greater the health risk (see Effects of High Blood Pressure).
 
In the past, hypertension research scientists tried to find clues about what in the diet affects blood pressure by testing various possible supplements for high blood pressure, such as:
 
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Various herbs
  • Other "natural" products.
     
So far, research has shown that potassium does lower blood pressure. Studies have not found that other supplements for high blood pressure, however, do anything to lower blood pressure.
 

Potassium and High Blood Pressure: Recommended Intake

The recommended intake of potassium for adolescents and adults is 4,700 mg/day. Recommended potassium intakes for children include:
 
  • 1 to 3 years of age -- 3,000 mg/day
  • 4 to 8 years of age -- 3,800 mg/day
  • 9 to 13 years of age -- 4,500 mg/day.
     

Potassium and High Blood Pressure: At-Risk Populations

Some individuals tend to be more salt-sensitive than others, including:
 
 
  • People with hypertension
  • African Americans
  • Middle-aged and older adults.
     
Because African Americans commonly have a relatively low intake of potassium and a high occurrence of elevated blood pressure and salt sensitivity, this population subgroup may especially benefit from an increased dietary intake of potassium.
 
(Potassium and High Blood Pressure Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD