The role of dietary potassium in hypertension and diabetes

Abstract

Potassium is an essential mineral which plays major roles for the resting membrane potential and the intracellular osmolarity. In addition, for several years, it has been known that potassium also affects endothelial and vascular smooth muscle functions and it has been repeatedly shown that an increase in potassium intake shifts blood pressure to a more preferable level. Meanwhile, the blood pressure lowering effects of potassium were presented in several intervention trials and summarized in a handful of meta-analyses. Furthermore, accumulating epidemiological evidence from, especially, the last decade relates low dietary potassium intake or serum potassium levels to an increased risk for insulin resistance or diabetes. However, intervention trials are required to confirm this association. So, in addition to reduction of sodium intake, increasing dietary potassium intake may positively affect blood pressure and possibly also glucose metabolism in many populations. This concise review not only summarizes the studies linking potassium to blood pressure and diabetes but also discusses potential mechanisms involved, like vascular smooth muscle relaxation and endothelium-dependent vasodilation or stimulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells, respectively.

Meta‐Analysis of Potassium Intake and the Risk of Stroke

“…This may suggest that at least part of a beneficial effect of potassium on stroke risk is mediated by a beneficial effect on blood pressure, and therefore the risk for overadjustment when blood pressure is included among the covariates in multivariate analysis. Still, the inverse association between potassium intake and stroke risk remained when estimates were adjusted for blood pressure, consistent with the hypothesis of an involvement of other mechanisms, such as a protective effect of potassium against thrombus formation, atherosclerotic lesion progression, endothelial dysfunction, and free radical generation . Blood pressure may also be an effect modifier of the potassium–stroke relation, although results of the 2 studies that investigated this issue are entirely contradictory .…”

Effects of seed priming, salinity and methyl jasmonate treatment on bioactive composition of Brassica oleracea var. capitata (white and red varieties) sprouts

“…A higher K content in both red and white cabbages after seed priming increased the nutritional value of sprouts . Thus K is well known in relation to heart and muscle activity, and its elevated concentration in diets affected positively blood pressure and glucose metabolism . The reduced content of some minerals in response to MeJA spraying could be attributed to the growth‐inhibiting properties of this phytohormone .…”

Sodium and Potassium Intake in Healthy Adults in Thessaloniki Greater Metropolitan Area—The Salt Intake in Northern Greece (SING) Study

“…In contrast to sodium, evidence from epidemiologic studies and randomized trials point to the beneficial effects of dietary potassium on blood pressure and cardiovascular health [16,17,18]. This effect is more pronounced in those with high sodium intake [19].…”