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Potassium
•Last Updated: March 14, 2024
Potassium is essential for normal bodily function. It is obtained in the diet and found in several foods. Potassium-containing drugs are sometimes used to treat certain conditions. Potassium salts (e.g. potassium chloride) are used in reduced-sodium added-potassium salt substitute interventions and in sodium restriction diets to help treat high blood pressure.
Potassium is most often used for
Last Updated:March 14, 2024
Potassium is an essential element that regulates electrolyte balance, blood pressure, and electrical impulses in the nerves and muscles and is crucial for muscle contractility, including the heart. It is obtained through diet, with recommended daily intakes of 3,400 mg for men and 2,600 mg for women, and its blood concentration is tightly regulated; imbalances can lead to serious cardiovascular issues.
Supplemental potassium can lower blood pressure, particularly in people with low potassium intake or high sodium intake, and it is associated with a reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, potassium may improve bone health and metabolism in older adults, although its direct protective effects on bone loss remain unclear.
The main drawbacks of supplemental potassium include the risk of hyperkalemia, which can lead to heart problems, particularly in people with certain health conditions. Additionally, although supplemental potassium can lower blood pressure, very high doses may paradoxically increase it, so it's important to follow medical advice on dosing.
Potassium works through primary regulatation by the kidneys, which control its excretion through potassium channels, and its distribution in the body is influenced by hormones like insulin and aldosterone. The steep gradient between extracellular and intracellular potassium concentrations is essential for generating membrane potentials, which facilitate electrical impulses in neurons and muscle contractions; higher dietary potassium intake is associated with lower risks of stroke and cardiovascular disease, likely due to its blood-pressure-lowering effects.
Note that Potassium is also known as:
- Kalium
- K+
The adequate intake (AI) for potassium in people without known health conditions — i.e., the daily amount assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy — is as follows:[1]
| Age | Male | Female | Pregnant | Lactating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | 400 mg/day | 400 mg/day | - | - |
| Infants 7–12 months | 860 mg/day | 860 mg/day | - | - |
| Children 1–3 years | 2000 mg/day | 2000 mg/day | - | - |
| Children 4–8 years | 2300 mg/day | 2300 mg/day | - | - |
| Children 9–13 years | 2500 mg/day | 2300 mg/day | - | - |
| Teens 14–18 years | 3000 mg/day | 2300 mg/day | 2600 mg/day | 2500 mg/day |
| Adult 19–50 years | 3400 mg/day | 2600 mg/day | 2900 mg/day | 2800 mg/day |
| Adult 51+ years | 3400 mg/day | 2600 mg/day | - | - |
Some evidence suggests that dietary potassium insufficiency might be common: the global mean potassium intake has been estimated at 2250 mg/day, with only 35% of adults estimated to be achieving adequate intakes.[2]
Potassium is found in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, and animal products.[1][3] Consult the FoodData Central database to check the amount of potassium in the foods you eat.
Potassium supplements are generally safe for consumption and are unlikely to cause adverse effects if used within the recommended dosage.[4]
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- Bone Mineral Density - H Lambert, L Frassetto, J B Moore, D Torgerson, R Gannon, P Burckhardt, S Lanham-NewThe effect of supplementation with alkaline potassium salts on bone metabolism: a meta-analysisOsteoporos Int.(2015 Jan 9)
- Blood Pressure - Filippini T, Violi F, D'Amico R, Vinceti MThe effect of potassium supplementation on blood pressure in hypertensive subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Int J Cardiol.(2017-Mar-01)
- Blood Pressure - Jalal Poorolajal, Fatemeh Zeraati, Ali Reza Soltanian, Vida Sheikh, Elham Hooshmand, Akram MalekiOral potassium supplementation for management of essential hypertension: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsPLoS One.(2017 Apr 18)