How Potassium Intake Affects Your Blood Pressure
Low dietary potassium intake (below 40 meq/day) may be a risk factor for the development both of essential hypertension and stroke.
Potassium supplementation appears to modestly lower the blood pressure in some normotensive and hypertensive humans.
Mechanism:
1. Relation to sodium intake - The relation between potassium and blood pressure also appears to be related to changes in sodium excretion: potassium depletion diminishes while potassium loading increases sodium excretion, apparently through changes in proximal or loop sodium reabsorption.
2. Role of chloride – Chloride is an important determinant of the rise in blood pressure in salt-sensitive forms of hypertension. Chloride may minimize the antihypertensive activity of potassium.
In summary, increased dietary potassium intake can potentially improve BP control and reduce vascular disease. Thus, all hypertensive patients should be encouraged to maintain a high potassium intake from fresh fruits and beans.
