The effect of a dietary supplement of potassium chloride or potassium citrate on blood pressure in predominantly normotensive volunteers

Abstract

Blood pressure (BP) shows a continuous relationship with the risk of CVD. There is substantial evidence that dietary potassium exerts an antipressor effect. Most clinical trials have used KCl. However, the chloride ion may have a pressor effect and in foods potassium is associated with organic anions. In a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial we explored the effect on BP of two salts of potassium, KCl and potassium citrate (K-cit), in predominantly young healthy normotensive volunteers. The primary outcome was the change in mean arterial pressure as measured in a clinic setting. After 6 weeks of supplementation, compared with the placebo group (n 31), 30 mmol K-cit/d (n 28) changed mean arterial pressure by 25·22 mmHg (95 % CI 2 8·85, 24·53) which did not differ significantly from that induced by KCl (n 26), 2 4·70 mmHg (2 6·56, 22·84). The changes in systolic and diastolic BP were 26·69 (95 % CI 2 8·85, 24·43) and 2 4·26 (95 % CI 26·31, 2 2·21) mmHg with K-cit and 25·24 (95 % CI 2 7·43, 23·06) and 24·30 (95 % CI 26·39, 22·20) mmHg with KCl, and did not differ significantly between the two treatments. Changes in BP were not related to baseline urinary electrolytes. A greater treatment-related effect was observed in those with higher systolic BP. Increasing dietary potassium could therefore have a significant impact on the progressive rise in BP in the entire population.

Daily potassium intake and sodium-to-potassium ratio in the reduction of blood pressure

“…The BP-lowering effect in patients without elevated BP is not significant in our study -a finding consistent with previous meta-analyses [5]. Studies in predominantly normotensive individuals of short duration have reported that a modest potassium supplementation of 30 mmol/day can result in lowering BP [47,48]. Importantly, larger trials are necessary to evaluate whether long-term dietary modifications, especially in pre-hypertensive participants, would delay progression to hypertensive stage and contribute to reducing future cardiovascular events.…”

Characterization of tannery effluent wastewater by proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis to investigate their role in water pollution

“…Chlorine in combination with sodium and potassium is a popular cause of hypertension (Jia et al 2007;Kim et al 2007), vascular lesions (Jia et al 2007;Wang et al 2006), and kidney failure. Thus, increase amount of K, as revealed by this experiment in SW, may produce assorted health impacts on consumers including hypertension (Braschi and Naismith 2008), lung injury, cardiovascular disease (Cook et al 2008), reduction in urinary albumin , renal damage, and disturbance of consciousness.…”

Recent Advances in Understanding Integrative Control of Potassium Homeostasis

“…First, beneficial effects of K + supplementation have been observed without an increase in plasma [K + ]: Nearly doubling daily K + intake (by adding 60 mmol/70 kg body weight) for three days did not change serum [K + ] in healthy men or women but did diminish platelet reactivity (104). Moreover, in another study of healthy volunteers, KCl or potassium citrate supplementation for six weeks (30 mmol day −1 ) did not change plasma [K + ] but did significantly lower blood pressure (105). Second, clinical studies investigating the relationship between serum [K + ] and risk of cardiovascular events have shown a U-shaped association: Both significant hypokalemia and hyperkalemia are riskfactors for cardiovascular events (106, 107).…”