Increasing potassium while decreasing sodium intake aids blood pressure, researchers argue
Key takeaways
- Researchers call to combine higher potassium intake with sodium reduction for lowering blood pressure and managing hypertension.
- Low levels of potassium may increase sodium’s negative health effects, while a higher intake supports sodium excretion, vascular function, and blood pressure control.
- The authors suggest food manufacturers can reformulate products using potassium-based salts, but stress that dosage must be managed carefully to avoid metallic flavors.
US researchers argue that boosting potassium intake while limiting sodium might be the most efficient way to tackle hypertension. The authors of a perspective paper stress that public health guidelines are currently focusing solely on sodium reduction, and propose that moving from this singular strategy will have a greater effect on hypertension management.
Hypertension affects over 1.28 billion adults globally, and the main causes are insufficient potassium and elevated sodium intake, the authors stress. They explain that potassium levels are often “far below optimal levels in both developed and developing nations,” while the global average intake of sodium is above the recommendations.
“It is time to view dietary interventions holistically because food components interact and physiology is integrative across systems. Growing evidence shows that increasing dietary potassium as well as reducing sodium intake work together to better manage hypertension,” says author Dr. Naomi Fukagawa, director of the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service Beltsville Nutrition Research Center.
Diet adjustments
Published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the paper reviews the current recommendations for sodium and potassium intake, implementation challenges, strategies, and future research directions and policy to accelerate progress in public health.
It notes that over the years, food manufacturers have been using ingredients containing potassium, such as potassium chloride (KCI), as a strategy to reduce sodium intake.
The findings of reducing blood pressure with more potassium and less sodium suggest a critical “paradigm shift,” say the authors.However, the new findings of reducing blood pressure with more potassium and less sodium suggest a critical “paradigm shift” — one that could lead to updating public health recommendations, the authors stress.
“With experience and new evidence at hand, we are proposing a shift from the singular focus on significant sodium reduction to include the complementary strategy of increasing potassium intake.”
This can be adjusted through diet, such as incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and dairy. For food manufacturers, the authors stress that potassium salt comes with a maximum level of what can be added to foods, as it may bring a metallic flavor. Therefore, they must use a careful approach to balance sodium and potassium in products.
A recent study showed that increasing the dietary intake of legumes and soy decreased the risk of high blood pressure.
Potassium-sodium balance
The perspective explains that potassium intake enhances sodium excretion, modulates vascular tone, and reduces blood pressure. Similarly, potassium deficiency increases blood pressure and modulates the effects of sodium.
“High-potassium diets have consistently been associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes in population studies,” reads the paper.
A Canadian study published last year also encouraged increasing the ratio of dietary potassium to sodium intake as a more effective way for lowering blood pressure than simply reducing sodium intake. Potassium and sodium are both electrolytes, explained the authors. These substances help the body send electrical signals to contract muscles, affect the amount of water in the body, and perform other essential functions.
Other researchers previously stressed that sodium intake differs by culture, race, and ethnicity, and underscored the importance of culturally customized approaches to advise on sodium intake.
