Potassium is an essential mineral your body needs for sustaining a positive charge inside of cell membranes to maintain normal functioning of your heart, muscles and nerves. Supplements generally contain potassium chloride whereas foods are a natural source of potassium citrate. Both forms of potassium have a blood-pressure-lowering effect. Before taking supplemental potassium consult your physician to determine safety for your health.
Blood Pressure
The force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries is referred to as blood pressure. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 1 in 3 American adults has high blood pressure, or hypertension. Persistently high blood pressure forces your heart to work harder to get fresh blood to your organs and the condition can become serious resulting in health complications including heart disease, stroke or kidney failure. Treatment includes dietary or lifestyle changes and for some, prescription medications are necessary to lower blood pressure.
Potassium Chloride and Blood Pressure Research
In cases of mild to moderate hypertension, potassium chloride taken as a dietary supplement can lower your blood pressure as effectively as a diet rich in potassium citrate containing foods, notes the Harvard Medical School. However, a 1990 study published in the "New England Journal of Medicine" found in severely hypertensive adults, the administration of potassium chloride combined with a low sodium diet had marginal effects on lowering blood pressure compared to use of medications with a low sodium diet. Potassium is an important element in controlling your blood pressure but use of potassium chloride supplements depends on your specific health needs and should not be implemented without first consulting your physician
Dietary Potassium
The recommended daily intake of potassium for adults is 4,700 mg. The American Heart Association notes that including potassium in your diet helps lower blood pressure by blunting the effects of sodium but this is only one element of a comprehensive dietary pattern for sustaining low blood pressure. Additional factors contributing to blood pressure variations include saturated fat intake, use of table salt or high sodium foods, excess food consumption and weight gain, sedentary lifestyle and smoking.
Sources and Precautions
Food sources of potassium include peas, bananas, spinach, raisins, nuts and seeds, beans and fish. Potassium chloride supplements in high doses must be obtained by physician prescription and are generally indicated to treat potassium deficiency, or hypokalemia. Serious side effects from too much potassium may include kidney failure, heart arrhythmia, weakness and gastrointestinal distress. If you are taking medications, potassium chloride supplements may cause an interaction. Although potassium supplements may effectively lower your blood pressure, consult your physician before taking supplements to discuss interactions and adverse effects.
References
- American Heart Association: Potassium and High Blood Pressure
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide; Potassium Lowers Blood Pressure; July 2005
- Linus Pauling Institute; Potassium; Jane Higdon, PhD; February 2004
- Drugs.com: Potassium Chloride
- New England Journal of Medicine; The Influence of Oral Potassium Chloride on Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Men on a Low-Sodium Diet; Richard H. Grimm, Jr. M.D.; March 1, 1990
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: High Blood Pressure
